]  he  Burgomaster 

lo'f  Stilemonde 

Vlaurice  MaeJeiiinck/r^ 


LlBRWIf 
•ANOICOO 


presented  to  the 
UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
SAN  DIEGO 

by 

MRS.   LEO  HERZ 


THE  BURGOMASTER 
OF  STILEMONDE 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2007  witii  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


littp://www.arcli  ive.org/details/burgomasterofstiOOmaetiala 


The  Burgomaster 
of  Stilemonde 

A  Play  in  Three  Acts 

BY 

MAURICE    MAETERLINCK 


Translated  by 
Alexander  Teixeira  de  Mattos 


« 


NEW  YORK 

DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY 

1918 


COPTRIOHT,    1918 

By  dodd,  mead  and  company.  Inc. 

All  rights  reserved 

All  applications  for  dramatic  rights  to  be  addressed  to 
Mr.  Oscar  Osso,  1457  Broadway,  New  York  City. 


CHARACTERS 

Age 

Cyrille  van  Belle,  Burgomaster  of 

Stilemonde  60 

IsABELLE,  his  daughter  25 

Floris,  his  son  14 

Major  Baron  von  Roc  how  45 

Lieutenant  Otto  Hilmer,  the  Bur- 
gomaster's son-in-law  30 
Lieutenant  Karl  von  Schaunberg  28 
The  Municipal  Secretary                30 
Claus,   the  Burgomaster's   head-gar- 
dener                                                    62 
Jean  Gilson                                       30 
The  Burgomaster's  Footman 
A  German  Sergeant 
A  German  Soldier 


SCENE  OF  THE  PLAY 

The  Scene  is  laid  at  the  end  of  August, 
19 1 4,  at  Stilemonde,  a  small  town  in  Bel- 
gian Flanders. 

The  first  Act  begins  at  10  A.  m.  and 
ends  at  12  noon;  the  second  begins  at  2 
P.  M.  and  ends  at  4  p.  M.;  the  third  begins 
at  5:30  P.  M.  and  ends  at  7  p.  M.  on  the 
same  day. 


THE  BURGOMASTER 
OF  STILEMONDE 


THE  BURGOMASTER  OF 
STILEMONDE 


ACT  I 

The  Burgomaster's  study,  a  large  and 
very  comfortably  furnished  room  on 
the  first  floor  of  the  house,  used  partly 
as  an  office,  and  partly  as  a  horti- 
cultural laboratory.  Leather  easy- 
chairs,  a  glass  hook-case.  A  large 
table  laden  with  papers  and  with 
vases,  dishes  and  baskets  full  of 
flowers  and  fruit:  orchids,  peaches, 
plums  and  magnificent  bunches  of 
grapes.  In  the  various  corners,  a 
grandfather's  clock,  garden-tools,  pul- 
verizers, retorts,  test-tubes,  bee-hives, 
etc.  At  the  back,  a  French  window 
7 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

opening  on  a  balcony.  On  the  right 
a  heavy  door. 
As  the  Curtain  rises,  the  Municipal 
Secretary  is  writing  at  a  corner  of 
the  table.  Enter,  on  the  right, 
Jean  Gilson.  He  is  dressed  in  ill- 
fitting  peasants  clothes,  and  carries 
his  arm  in  a  sling. 

Jean  Gilson 
Good-morning,  Mr.  Secretary. 

The  Secretary 
Good-morning.     What   can   I    do    for 
you? 

Jean  Gilson 
(Going  nearer.)     Don't  you  know  me, 
old  friend? 

The  Secretary 
Why,  it's  you,  Jean!     The  last  man  I 
8 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

expected  to  see!     Where  have  you  come 
from?     I  say,  you're  wounded  I 

Jean  Gilson 
Yes,  a  bullet  in  the  arm.  ...  I  got  it 
outside  Aerschot.  They  put  me  into  hos- 
pital at  Winkel,  but  the  Germans  entered 
the  town  yesterday  and,  as  I  could  walk,  I 
didn't  wait  for  them  to  take  me  prisoner. 
I  got  into  these  clothes,  cleared  out,  spent 
part  of  the  night  in  a  ditch,  tramped  three 
hours  across  country  and  here  I  am  at  Stile- 
monde. I  must  be  off  at  once,  though,  and 
try  and  catch  up  my  carabineers,  who  ought 
to  be  somewhere  near  Overloop. 

The  Secretary 
You  look  tired.     Does  the  arm  hurt? 
And  you're  soaked  through  I 

Jean  Gilson 
Yes.     The  arm's  not  much,  or  rather  it 
9 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

wasn't.     To-day,  somehow,  I  seem  to  feel 
it  more. 

The  Secretary 

That's  because  you're  tired.  You  must 
rest  a  little  and  have  your  wound  seen  to. 
We'll  find  you  a  bed  somewhere,  either  at 
my  place  or  here,  which  is  God's  own 
house. 

Jean  Gilson 

It's  not  a  question  of  resting,  it's  not  a 
question  of  bed;  they'll  be  here  before  the 
morning's  over. 

The  Secretary 
Who? 

Jean  Gilson 

The     Germans!     There    are    Uhlans 
everywhere  along  the  roads;  and  I  expect 
the  main  body  isn't  far  behind. 
10 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Secretary 

Impossible!  We've  heard  nothing  of 
that  here;  but  of  course  the  communica- 
tions have  all  been  cut. 

Jean  Gilson 
Where's  the  Burgomaster? 

The  Secretary 
I'm  waiting  for  him.  He's  in  one  of 
the  glass-houses.  The  storm  last  night 
seems  to  have  done  some  damage.  He'll 
be  here  in  a  minute :  the  man  has  gone  to 
find  him.  Would  you  like  to  speak  to 
him? 

Jean  Gilson 
I've  a  message  from  the  Burgomaster  of 
Winkel,  advising  him  to  be  very  careful 
and,  above  all,  to  see  that  no  arms  are 
found  in  the  town. 

11 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Secretary 
We've  seen  to  all  that;  we've  done 
everything.  All  the  arms,  even  the 
trophies  and  curios,  have  been  put  away 
in  the  Town-hall  and  locked  up  in  a  room 
of  which  I've  got  the  key.  ...  So  they're 
at  Winkel,  are  they? 

Jean  Gilson 
Yes,  three  or  four  hundred.     I  was  told 
that  the  master's  son-in-law  was  at  the  head 
of  them. 

The  Secretary 
The  master  ?     Who  ? 

Jean  Gilson 
Yours,  the  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde. 

The  Secretary 

Otto  Hilmer?     Impossible! 
12 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Jean  Gilson 

Yes,  that  was  the  name :  Lieutenant  Hil- 
mer.  So  it's  true  then?  I  wouldn't  be- 
lieve it.  Did  the  Burgomaster's  daughter 
marry  a  German  ? 

The  Secretary 

Of  course  she  did;  why  not?  We  were 
not  very  fond  of  the  Germans  here;  but, 
after  all,  they  did  us  no  harm;  on  the  con- 
trary. ...  It  was  before  the  war,  when 
nobody  thought  of  these  things.  As  luck 
would  have  it,  poor  Madame  van  Belle, 
the  master's  wife,  died  a  year  before  the 
wedding.  It  would  never  have  happened 
had  she  been  alive,  for  she  loathed  the 
Prussians;  and  if  she  could  see  what  they 
are  doing  to-day  1  But  what  a  blow  it  will 
be  to  the  master  I  Is  Lieutenant  Otto 
likely  to  be  coming  here? 
13 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Jean  Gilson 
Sure  to.     At  least,  so  he  told  the  Burgo- 
master at  Winkel.  .  .  .  But  how  did  that 
marriage  come  about? 

The  Secretary 
In  the  most  natural  way.  How  was  one 
to  know  that  some  fine  day  the  Germans 
would  come  and  massacre  us  and  do  all  the 
dreadful  things  that  people  are  talking 
about  ...  if  they're  true  ? 

Jean  Gilson 
They're  true  enough;  and  what  you've 
heard  isn't  the  worst. 

The  Secretary 
Dreadful  I  But  who  could  have  thought 
iti  .  .  .  You  see,  Monsieur  van  Belle,  our 
Burgomaster,  went  to  Germany  now  and 
again  on  business.  They  made  a  great 
fuss  of  him  there  and  treated  him  royally. 
14 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

At  Cologne  they  made  him  the  president  of 
all  the  local  horticultural  societies.  He 
had  known  the  Hilmer  family  a  long  time 
and  used  to  stay  with  Otto's  parents  when- 
ever he  went  to  Cologne. 

Jean  Gilson 
Are  they  well  off,  the  Hil  —  what  did 
you  say  the  name  was  ? 

The  Secretary 
The  Hilmers.  They've  got  a  factory  in 
the  Rhine  Province:  electrical  machinery; 
it's  the  biggest  factory  in  the  place.  Well, 
young  Hilmer,  who's  now  Lieutenant  Otto, 
wanted  to  learn  about  cultivation  of  or- 
chids and  hot-house  grapes,  which  happens 
to  be  the  specialty  of  Van  Belle  and  Co. 
And  Monsieur  van  Belle's  son  was  keen  on 
electricity  only.  So  they  paired  off :  young 
Van  Belle  went  to  Cologne  and  Otto  came 

here. 

15 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Jean  Gilson 
How  long  ago  was  that? 

The  Secretary 
Nearly  two  years. 

Jean  Gilson 
And  where  is  young  Van  Belle  now  ? 

The  Secretary 
He  was  at  Cologne  when  war  was  de- 
clared; but  there's  a  rumour  that  he  man- 
aged to  escape.     We've  heard  nothing  defi- 
nite, though,  and  are  very  uneasy. 

Jean  Gilson 

And  the  other?     How  did  he  get  back 
to  Germany? 

The  Secretary 
I  don't  know.     He  must  have  got  wind 
16 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

of  it  somehow.  He  left  us  suddenly,  at 
the  end  of  July,  gave  out  that  his  mother 
was  ill. 

Jean  Gilson 
That  shows  again  that  they  knew  what 
was  going  to  happen  and  were  preparing 
for  it.  And,  as  he  had  been  warned,  he 
might  at  least  have  done  the  same  by  his 
father-in-law  and  still  more  by  his  wife's 
brother. 

The  Secretary 
You  see,  those  people  aren't  like  us. 

Jean  Gilson 

Or  rather  we're  not  like  them,  thank 
Heaven!  .  .  .  Have  they  been  married 
long? 

The  Secretary 
Close  on  six  months. 
17 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Jean  Gilson 
Are  they  happy? 

The  Secretary 

They  worshipped  each  other.  And 
one's  got  to  be  fair.  Otto  is  a  very  pleas- 
ant, good-hearted  fellow,  very  kind,  and 
liked  doing  people  a  good  turn.  Worked 
very  hard.  Polite  to  everybody.  Clever 
too,  very.  Nothing  really  to  be  said 
against  him. 

Jean  Gilson 

Except  that  he's  a  German;  and  that's 
quite  enough.  .  .  .  And  how  does  his  wife 
take  it  all? 

The  Secretary 

She's  very  much  upset,  of  course;  and 
that's  bad,  because,  as  I  hear,  she  is  at  this 
moment  —  you  understand.    However,  it's 
18 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

not  certain  yet.  .  .  .  She  is  very  restless, 
very  depressed,  but  she  doesn't  say  any- 
thing; she  was  never  one  to  talk  much. 

Jean  Gilson 

But  he  must  surely  have  told  her,  have 
prepared  her  ?  .  .  .  She  must  have  known 
what  was  going  on? 

The  Secretary 

I  know  nothing  about  that.  I'm  not  in 
her  confidence. 

Jean  Gilson 
And  what  does  the  master  say? 

The  Secretary 

He's  dreadfully  worried.     At  first,  he 

was  quite  bowled  over.     He  simply  refused 

to  believe  it.     Then  he  was  furious,  wild, 

beside  himself.     But  he  calmed  down  after 

19 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

a  bit:  you  see,  he  was  always  something  of 
an  optimist;  and  now  he's  beginning  to 
think  that  things  will  be  settled  very  soon. 
But  here  he  is. 

{Enter  the  BURGOMASTER,   carrying 
a  basket  filled  with  prize  grapes.) 

The  Secretary 
{Rising.)      Good-morning,  Mr.  Burgo- 
master. 

The  Burgomaster 
Good-morning,  Pierre.     How  are  you? 

The  Secretary 
As  well   as  can  be,   after  working  all 
night. 

The  Burgomaster 
Is  everything  settled  at  the  Town-hall? 

The  Secretary 
Yes,  Mr.  Burgomaster.     All  the  arms 
20 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

have  been  stored  there;  I  drew  up  a  list 
myself  and  gave  the  receipts.  .  .  .  But  let 
me  introduce  my  old  friend  Jean  Gilson, 
who's  been  wounded  at  Aerschot.  He  was 
in  hospital  at  Winkel  when  the  Germans 
entered  the  town  yesterday;  he  managed  to 
escape  last  night 

The  Burgomaster 
(Shaking  hands  with  GiLSON.)      So  you 
were  at  Aerschot? 

Jean  Gilson 
Yes,  I  was  a  sergeant  in  the  battalion  of 
carabineers  which  covered  the  retreat. 

The  Burgomaster 
Was  it  much  of  a  fight  ? 

Jean  Gilson 
Yes.     Two-thirds  of  the  battalion  were 
killed    or    wounded.     There    are    always 
21 


^ 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

three  of  them  to  one  of  us ;  and  we  had  no 
guns.  We  held  our  ground  as  long  as  we 
could ;  then  we  were  obliged  to  fall  back. 

The  Burgomaster 
You  look  dreadfully  tired  and  must  be 
starving  1  Pierre,  my  dear  fellow,  why  on 
earth  didn't  you  .  .  .  ?  {He  rings.) 
I'll  tell  him  myself.  {Enter  the  Foot- 
man.) Firmin,  bring  up  some  cold  meat; 
bring  anything  you've  got  downstairs: 
bread,  butter,  eggs,  cheese.  What  cold 
meat  is  there? 

The  Footman 
Veal  and  chicken,  sir;  ham,  tongue. 

The  Burgomaster 

All  right,  bring  them  all.  And  as  to 
drink  .  .  .  (To  Jean  GiLSON.)  What 
wine  do  you  like?     I've  a  splendid  Rude- 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

sheimer  and  an  '82  white  port  which  you 
won't  quarrel  with.  Which  would  you 
like?  {To  the  Footman.)  Look  here, 
bring  both,  that's  simpler.  {To  Jean 
GiLSON.)  You  can  manage  a  couple  of 
bottles,  I  dare  say.  If  necessary  we'll 
lend  you  a  hand,  eh,  Mr.  Secretary?  It 
will  be  so  much  less  left  for  the  Germans. 
There's  fruit  enough,  as  you  see.  These 
pears,  these  plums  and  peaches  are  of  my 
own  growing;  look  at  the  grapes  I  have 
just  picked;  did  you  ever  see  anything  like 
them?  They're  my  special  achievement: 
a  variety  I  ^ot  by  slowly  and  patiently 
crossing  the  Black  Alicante,  which  is  mag- 
nificent to  look  at  but  hasn't  much  flavour, 
with  a  Sicilian  muscat  that's  very  small  but 
delicious.  I've  secured  what's  best  in 
both  of  them  and  kept  out  what's  bad. 
Just  taste  them:  aren't  they  wonderful? 
They're  hard  and  yet  they're  juicy;  they 
23 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

just  melt  as  you  crush  them  with  your 
teeth.  Each  one  is  like  a  drop  of  wine 
with  a  touch  of  snow  in  it.  I  shall  be  put- 
ting over  four  thousand  pounds  of  these 
grapes  on  the  market  every  week  in  five 
years  or  so.  You've  been  the  first  to  have 
a  taste  of  them.  ...  So  they're  at  Win- 
kel,  are  they? 

Jean  Gilson 
Yes,  Mr.  Burgomaster;  and  they'll  be 
here  this  morning.     I'm  just  a  bit  ahead 
of  them. 

The  Secretary 

Jean  tells  me  that  they're  led  by  Mr. 
Otto,  your  son-in-law. 

The  Burgomaster 

What,  Otto?     Impossible!     Were  you 
told  that?     Did  you  see  him? 
24 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Jean  Gilson 
I  didn't  see  him,  but  that's  what  I  was 
told.  There  were  three  officers  at  Win- 
kel,  a  major  and  two  lieutenants;  Otto 
Hilmer  was  one.  I  hear  that  he  said  he 
was  coming  to  occupy  Stilemonde  with  a 
detachment  of  the  62nd  Foot. 

The  Burgomaster 
Yes,  he  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  reserve. 
It's  odd  that  he  should  have  dared  .  .  . 
But  no,  in  point  of  fact  he's  right.  He 
has  done  the  right  thing,  he  will  arrange 
matters  and  we  shall  have  nothing  to  fear. 
All  the  same,  it's  rather  extraordinary. 
My  own  son-in-law  comes  into  my  town  as 
a  conqueror,  booted  and  helmeted,  with 
his  sword  drawn,  after  violating  the  fron- 
tier of  his  adopted  country.  .  .  .  How- 
ever, it's  war;  and  he  can't  help  it.  He's 
not  responsible  and  he  can't  do  what  he 
25 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

likes.  Besides,  it's  all  the  better  for  us: 
as  long  as  he's  here,  we've  nothing  to  be 
afraid  of.  .  .  .  How  are  they  behaving 
at  Winkel?  I  hope  they  haven't  done 
much  harm? 

Jean  Gilson 
They  hadn't  when  I  left.  They  took 
the  burgomaster,  the  priest  and  the  notary 
as  hostages  and  declared  that  they  would 
kill  them  if  a  single  shot  was  fired  in  the 
village. 

The  Burgomaster 
They  won't  do  that,  thanks  to  Otto. 
Otto  is  a  kind-hearted  chap,  who  wouldn't 
hurt  a  soul.  Besides,  I  feel  certain  that 
their  massacres  and  atrocities  have  been 
greatly  exaggerated;  after  all,  they're  not 
savages. 

Jean  Gilson 
I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Burgomaster, 
26 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

there  has  been  no  exaggeration  at  all;  on 
the  contrary,  we  haven't  heard  everything 
yet.  What  they  did  at  Andenne,  at  Di- 
nant,  at  Louvain,  at  Aerschot  and  at  every 
town  they  came  to  is  simply  appalling. 
As  for  the  massacres  at  Dinant  and  Lou- 
vain, I've  got  that  at  first  hand:  two  of 
my  men  saw  it  with  their  own  eyes.  At 
Louvain,  they  executed  two  hundred  and 
ten  innocent  people,  including  twenty-four 
women  and  fourteen  children;  at  Dinant, 
six  hundred  and  six,  including  thirty-nine 
children  and  seventy-one  women;  at  Aer- 
schot, they  shot  the  burgomaster  and  his 
son  of  fifteen,  with  many  other  entirely 
harmless  and  defenceless  citizens. 

The  Burgomaster 
Then  it's  true  that  there  have  been  mili- 
tary executions?     I  didn't  believe  it.  .  .  . 
And  what  excuse  did  they  make? 

27 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Jean  Gilson 
Their  colonel  had  been  killed  by  a  stray 
bullet,  fired  by  one  of  their  own  men. 

The  Burgomaster 
The  devil  1  They're  dangerous  thenl 
But  we  must  have  none  of  that  here. 
(Enter  the  Footman.)  Here's  Firmin 
with  the  tray:  sandwiches  and  the  two 
bottles.  {Filling  the  glasses.)  This  is 
my  '95  Rudesheimer.  Tell  me  what  you 
think  of  it. 

Jean  Gilson 
(Tasting  the  wine.)      It's  remarkably 
good. 

The  Burgomaster 

You're  right.     (Exit  the  Footman.) 

This  is  one  of  a  lot  of  fifty  dozen,  which 

1  bought  at  the  sale  of  Von  Hulthem  the 

notary,  who  had  the  best  cellar  in  these 

28 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

parts.  .  .  .  But  what  do  you  mean  to  do 
now?  You  can't  go  off  like  this,  you 
know.  You  must  have  a  few  days'  rest 
here;  and  we'll  dress  your  wound  prop- 
erly; it  doesn't  do  to  trifle  with  a  thing 
like  that. 

Jean  Gilson 
You  see,  if  they  catch  me  here,  they'll 
send  me  to  Germany,  unless  they  shoot  me 
as  a  franc-tireur. 

The  Burgomaster 
Have  no  fear  of  that.     I'll  hide  you  in 
the  house;  I'll  tell  Otto  and  he'll  arrange 
things. 

Jean  Gilson 

Nothing   would   suit   me   better.     I'm 
very  tired  and  I  feel  I  haven't  the  strength 
to  go  very  far.     But  I'm  afraid  of  compro- 
mising you  if  they  find  me  under  your  roof. 
29 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 
The  Burgomaster 

I  assure  you,  you  have  nothing  to  fear. 
Leave  it  all  to  me.  Otto  can  refuse  me 
nothing;  and  you'll  see,  we'll  settle  all  this 
among  ourselves. 

{Enter  the  Footman.) 

The  Footman 
They're  at  the  gate,  sir. 

The  Burgomaster 
Who? 

The  Footman 

The  Germans,  sir :  some  officers  and  a 
dozen  Uhlans.     Shall  I  let  them  in? 

The  Burgomaster 

Certainly,  let  them  in  at  once.  Show 
the  officers  up;  I'll  wait  here.  (Exit  the 
Footman.) 

30 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Secretary 
Shall  I  leave  you,  Mr.  Burgomaster? 

The  Burgomaster 

No,  stay.     But  first  see  to  your  friend's 
safety.     Take  him  into   the  next  room; 
then,  when  Firmin  comes  back,  we'll  find 
him  a  bed.     Good-bye   for  the  present, 
Monsieur   Gilson.     Take   the    food   and 
wine  with  you;  you  have  nothing  to  fear. 
(Jean  Gilson  goes  into  the  next  room.) 
And  now  let  us  prepare  to  face  the  enemy. 
I  hear  their  swords  clattering  on  the  stairs. 
{Enter  the  Footman,  with  Major 
Baron  von  Roc  how.  Lieuten- 
ant Otto  Hilmer  and  Lieuten- 
ant Karl  von  Schaunberg.) 

The  Burgomaster 
It's  you,  Otto  I      {Mechanically  puts  out 
his  hand  and  then  withdraws  it.) 
31 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Otto 
Yes.  (Presenting  the  Burgomaster 
to  the  Major.)  Major,  this  is  the  Burgo- 
master of  Stilemonde,  my  father-in-law. 
Major  Baron  von  Rochow.  Lieutenant 
Karl  von  Schaunberg. 

The  Major 
Mr.  Burgomaster,  we  shall  occupy  the 
town  until  further  orders.  You  will  have 
to  find  billets  for  two  hundred  and  fifty 
men.  For  the  present  you  will  not  be 
called  upon  to  feed  them.  My  two  of- 
ficers and  I  will  ask  leave  to  take  up  our 
quarters  in  your  house.  I  know  the  ties 
that  unite  you  to  one  of  them.  I  hope  that, 
thanks  to  these  good  relations,  there  will 
be  no  difficulties  between  us.  Neverthe- 
less, as  is  customary,  considering  the  bad 
spirit  which  the  civil  population  have  hith- 
erto displayed  and  in  accordance  with  the 
32 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

formal  instructions  which  I  have  received, 
I  am  obliged  to  look  upon  you  as  a  hostage. 
If  unfortunately  —  which  Heaven  forbid 
—  an  attempt  were  made  upon  the  life  of 
one  of  my  officers  or  men,  your  own  life 
would  answer  for  it.  But  we  need  not,  I 
trust,  contemplate  any  such  deplorable  con- 
tingencies. If  the  civilians  behave  pro- 
perly, they  have  nothing  to  fear.  What- 
ever people  may  say,  we  are  not  barbar- 
ians. We  are,  above  all  things,  just;  but 
the  necessities  of  war  oblige  us  to  be  some- 
times severe  and  always  on  our  guard.  In 
an  hour  from  now  I  will  send  for  you  to 
the  Town-hall  to  discuss  the  question  of 
supplies  and  to  fix  the  war-levy. 

The  Burgomaster 
The  war-levy?     I  cannot  see  that,  so 
far,  we  have  done  anything  to  justify  a 
levy. 

33 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Major 
I  beg  your  pardon.     I  may  permit  you 
to  discuss  the  amount  but  not  the  principle. 

Otto 

{To  the  Burgomaster.)  Please  give 
the  Major  the  large  bedroom  on  the  first 
floor,  the  one  with  a  balcony  overlooking 
the  square,  and  the  sitting-room  leading 
into  it.  Lieutenant  von  Schaunberg  and  I 
will  take  the  other  two  spare-rooms.  Fir- 
min,  show  the  Major  and  the  Lieutenant  to 
their  rooms. 

The  Major 

I  must  beg  you,  Mr.  Burgomaster,  to 
put  forward  your  luncheon  hour  by  thirty 
minutes.  We  shall  have  the  honour  of 
taking  our  seats  at  your  table  at  twelve 
o'clock  precisely. 

The  Burgomaster 
Certainly,  sir. 

34 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

{Exeunt  the  Major  and  Lieuten- 
ant VON  SCHAUNBERG,   with   the 
^  Footman  leading  the  way.) 

The  Burgomaster 
My  poor  Otto ! 

Otto 
Where  is  Isabelle? 

The  Burgomaster 
Upstairs  in  her  room.     She  can't  have 
heard  you. 

Otto 
How  is  she  ?     Not  ill,  I  hope  ? 

The  Burgomaster 

Not  exactly,  but  dreadfully  depressed, 

extremely  tired  and  very  much  affected  by 

all  these  happenings.   ...  I  expect  she  is 

still  asleep ;  and  it  Is  better  not  to  wake  her. 

35 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Otto 
How  does  she  take  the  war? 

The  Burgomaster 
As  we  all  do,  with  the  utmost  amaze- 
ment, indignation  and  consternation.  But 
she  is  naturally  more  upset  than  we,  who 
can't  believe  our  eyes.  My  poor  Otto,  this 
is  an  ugly  business  they've  let  you  in  for  1 

Otto 
You  need  not  think  that  we  do  it  with  a 
light  heart.  We  are  acting  as  you  see, 
only  because  we  are  forced  and  constrained 
to  do  so  by  the  incredible  attitude  of  your 
fellow-countrymen. 

The  Burgomaster 
Of  course  it  was  Belgium  that  began. 

Otto 
That's  truer  than  you  think.     She  began 
36 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

by  playing  the  game  of  our  enemies ;  and, 
if  we  had  not  struck  the  first  blow,  we 
should  have  been  the  victims  of  our  confi- 
dence in  her  loyalty. 

The  Burgomaster 

Look,  here.  Otto,  I  know  you  for  an 
intelligent,  conscientious  and  thoroughly 
honest  man.  You  have  lived  among  us 
and  you  know  what  sort  of  people  we  are. 
How  can  you  stand  there  and  seriously 
utter  such  —  I  don't  know  what  word  to 
use,  or,  if  I  did,  it  wouldn't  be  a  pleasant 
one.  Let  them  tell  that  sort  of  humbug 
to  your  wretched  soldiers,  or  to  a  pack  of 
Junkers  fuddled  with  pride  and  stupidity, 
but  not  to  a  man  like  yourself  I  You  know 
the  plain,  terrible  truth  as  well  as  I  do, 
just  as  you  know  what  to  think  of  the  hide- 
ous massacres  at  Vise,  Andenne,  Dinant, 
Aerschot,  Louvain  and  other  places. 
37 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Otto 

Excuse  me,  it  is  not  the  same  thing.  I 
admit  that  the  violation  of  Belgium  was  a 
regrettable  incident;  in  my  opinion  it  was 
a  mistake,  necessary  perhaps,  from  certain 
points  of  view,  but  one  which  will  cost  us 
dear.  But  I  do  not  admit  the  massacres. 
There  have  been  executions  of  hostages 
and  reprisals  necessitated  by  incessant  acts 
of  treachery  committed  by  the  civil  popu- 
lation. Here  and  there,  perhaps,  there 
has  been  some  excess  of  zeal ;  that,  unfortu- 
nately, is  inevitable.  But  I  know  the  Ger- 
man army  better  than  you  do,  because  I 
belong  to  it;  and  it  is  the  most  highly  dis- 
ciplined army  in  the  world.  It  is  ex- 
tremely rare,  not  to  say  impossible,  for  the 
army  to  act  without  orders,  or  to  overstep 
the  orders  which  It  receives. 

The  Burgomaster 
That's  just  what  I  blame  It  for.     To 
38 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

judge  by  the  effects,  those  orders  are  exe- 
crable ! 

Otto 
It's  lucky  that  we're  alone.     Don't  use 
words  like  that:  with  the  best  will  in  the 
world,  I  might  not  always  be  able  to  save 
you  from  the  unpleasant  consequences. 

The  Burgomaster 

Very  well,  we  won't  argue  about  it. 
We  shall  never  agree  on  these  points  nor 
on  a  good  many  others.  I  know  what  I 
know;  and  I  stick  to  it. 

Otto 

I  also  know  what  I  know;  and  history 
■will  judge  between  us.  .  .  .  Let  us  try 
rather  to  get  back  to  the  feeling  that  united 
us  before  this  cataclysm,  for  which  we  are 
not  responsible, 

39 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Burgomaster 
It's  a  good  thing  that  you  at  least  do  not 
hold  us  to  be  responsible  for  the  disaster 
which  your  people  have  brought  on  us.     I 
thank  you  for  that. 

Otto 

Why  do  you  say  such  things  to  me  ?  I 
have  absolutely  nothing  to  do  with  what 
has  happened.  Like  the  rest  of  us,  I  am 
compelled  to  obey  an  authority  which  no 
one  can  resist.  I  am  a  wheel  in  the  ma- 
chine. I  cannot  act  otherwise  than  I  do. 
But  my  feelings,  my  affections  are  just  the 
same  as  they  were  before  the  war  I  I  per- 
suaded my  superiors  to  send  me  here,  so 
that  I  might  prove  how  grateful  I  am  to 
you.  ... 

The  Burgomaster 

And  because  you  know  the  country  so 
weUI 

40 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Otto 
Please  don't  continue  in  that  tone :  it  is 
not  fair  and  it  is  extremely  painful  to  me. 
I  simply  wished,  as  I  have  told  you,  to 
prove  my  gratitude  by  doing  all  I  could  to 
save  you,  and  the  town  of  which  you  are 
the  chief  authority,  from  the  inconveni- 
ences and  dangers  of  an  occupation  which 
I  was  unable  to  prevent. 

The  Burgomaster 
Very  well,  we  won't  talk  about  it.     How 
long  do  you  reckon  to  stay  here  with  your 
men? 

Otto 
We  don't  know :  perhaps  two  hours,  per- 
haps two  months.     It  all  depends  on  events 
and  on  the  orders  which  we  receive. 

The  Burgomaster 

And  the  Major,  what  sort  of  a  man  is 
41 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 
he?     He  does  not  look  easy  to  deal  with. 

Otto 
He  is  severe,  rather  hard,  rather  dicta- 
torial, rather  domineering,  a  strict  discipli- 
narian, but  absolutely  just;  taken  all  round, 
a  good  sort.  I  repeat,  you  have  nothing 
to  fear,  if  your  people  behave  themselves. 
Besides,  in  the  case  of  any  conflict  or  mis- 
understanding, I  hope  to  use  my  influence 
and  to  smooth  matters  down.  And  now 
let  us  be  friends,  if  you  will,  and  allow  me 
to  embrace  you  as  I  used  to. 

The  Burgomaster 
{Stepping     back.)      Forgive     me  .  .  . 
Excuse  me  ...  I  can't  just  now. 

Otto 
That's  strange;  I  simply  can't  under- 
stand it.     After  all,  this  war  is  no  business 
of  ours;  it's  over  our  heads;  it's  beyond  us. 
43 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

However,  I  mustn't  take  it  ill  of  you ;  and 
I  can  only  say,  like  Antigone,  "  I  take  part 
in  love  and  not  in  hatred."  But  what's  the 
time?  Eleven  o'clock?  Perhaps  we 
might  let  Isabelle  know,  if  she  really  isn't 
ill?  You  can  imagine  how  eager  I  am  to 
see  her  after  this  long  separation  and  after 
all  that  has  happened. 

The  Burgomaster 
I  will  send  the  maid  up  to  her.     {He 
rings.     Enter  the   Footman,   who  takes 
the    Burgomaster's    orders    and    exit.) 
Have  you  any  news  of  my  son? 

Otto 
Of  Odilon  ?     No,  isn't  he  here  ? 

The  Burgomaster 

No,  they  did  not  let  us  know  of  their 
plans,  as  they  did  you;  we  weren't  told 
43 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

what  they  were  going  to  do;  and  so  he 
stopped  at  Cologne.  We  are  rather  un- 
easy about  him. 

Otto 

He  is  in  no  danger  if  he  keeps  quiet. 
He  will  be  interned  in  a  concentration- 
camp.  I'll  write  to  my  people  and  ask 
them  to  see  that  he  is  well  treated.  ...  I 
say,  I  see  on  your  table  one  of  those  Cattle- 
yas  which  were  rather  sickly  before  I  left. 
How  are  they  doing? 

The  Burgomaster 

I  believe  they're  saved.  I  found  out 
under  the  microscope  what  it  was  that  was 
making  them  wither.  It's  a  tiny  fungus 
which  no  orchid-grower  had  located  before 
and  against  which  all  the  ordinary  methods 
of  vaporizing  and  fumigation  are  quite 
useless.  I've  contrived  a  new  blend;  I'll 
44 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

give  you  the  prescription ;  it  has  done  won- 
derfully well  so  far.  I'm  worried  about 
my  poor  hot-houses,  on  which  I've  spent 
the  best  part  of  my  life  and  nearly  half 
my  fortune.  If  only  this  war  doesn't  turn 
them  into  broken  glass  and  scrap-iron! 
As  you  know,  they  contain  nearly  half  a 
million  valuable  flowers;  and  their  destruc- 
tion would  be  an  Irretrievable  disaster,  for 
it  would  take  a  whole  lifetime  to  build  up 
a  collection  that  could  compare  with  mine. 

Otto 
Have  no  fear,  there  will  be  no  battle  or 
bombardment  in  this  direction;  and  while 
the  occupation  lasts  I  shall  be  able  to  pro- 
tect the  house  of  my  wife  and  my  father- 
in-law,  or  at  least  to  see  that  it  is  protected. 

The  Burgomaster 
Here  is  Isabelle. 
{Enter  Isabelle.) 

45 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

ISABELLE 

(Pausing  for  one  moment  on  the  thresh- 
old and  then  rushing  into  Otto's  arms.) 
You  I  Is  that  you?  You  here;  and  I  did 
not  know  I 

Otto 
{Embracing  her.)     Isabelle! 

ISABELLE 

You're  not  wounded?  You  haven't 
been  ill? 

Otto 

No;  and  you?  I  heard  you  were  not 
very  well. 

Isabelle 
It's  nothing;  it  was  the  horror  of  every- 
thing that  has  happened  and  the  anxiety  of 
knowing  you  to  be  constantly  in  danger 
from  the  enemy.  .  .  . 
46 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Burgomaster 
What  enemy?  It's  he  and  his  friends 
that  are  the  enemy ;  and  he  runs  no  danger 
in  the  midst  of  them.  But  I  will  leave  you 
to  yourselves.  Call  me  when  you  want 
me.     (Exit.) 

ISABELLE 

It's  true.  I  no  longer  know  where  I 
am.  I  call  enemies  all  who  wish  you  ill; 
and  that  means  all  the  people  I  love.  It  is 
too  much  for  a  woman's  heart  to  bear. 
But  it  is  over  now,  I  hope;  and  the  worst 
is  ended. 

Otto 
No,  the  worst  is  beginning.     But  I  was 
sure  of  you  and  that  you  at  least  would  not 
condemn  me  unheard. 

ISABELLE 

I  condemn  the  others,  but  I  know  that 

47 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

you  are  no  more  to  blame  than  I  am.  Be- 
sides, what  does  it  all  matter,  when  I  find 
you  the  same  as  you  were?  But  shall  I 
have  you  with  me  for  a  few  days?  That 
will  be  something  to  set  against  this  awful 
war! 

Otto 
I  have  no  idea.     I  may  have  to  go  away 
to-morrow. 

ISABELLE 

Are  you  in  the  firing-line  ? 

Otto 
It's  all  firing-line  at  the  moment.  We 
are  advancing  like  a  torrent.  I  did  not 
dare  tell  your  father,  but  the  whole  of  Bel- 
gium is  invaded.  Antwerp  will  fall  to- 
morrow and  Paris  in  a  week. 

ISABELLE 

And  after  that? 

48 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 
Otto 

After  that,  victory;  and  we  shall  settle 
down  here,  unless  you  would  rather  go 
with  me  to  Germany. 

ISABELLE 

I  shall  go  where  you  go. 
(Enter  Floris.) 

Floris 
Isn't  dad  here? 

Otto 

Good-morning,  Floris!  Come  and 
shake  hands. 

Floris 

(Recoiling  in  horror.)  Shake  hands 
with  you  1 

ISABELLE 

Floris  1 

49 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Floris 

Where's  dad? 

ISABELLE 

In  the  next  room.  But  you  might  at 
least  be  civil  and  shake  hands  with  Otto, 
who  wishes  us  no  harm  and  who  has  come 
here  to  protect  us. 

Floris 
I  don't  want  his  protection,  thank  you  I 
(Exit,    slamming    the    door    behind 
him.) 

Otto 
You  see  the  hatred  I  Amazing!  It's 
the  same  everywhere,  all  the  time,  wher- 
ever we  go.  They  simply  will  not  listen, 
they  will  not  understand.  I  was  conscious 
of  its  existence  even  in  the  heart  of  your 
father,  who  is  the  best-natured,  fairest  and 
most  tranquil-minded  man  I  know.  What 
50 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

can  we  do,  when  they  treat  us  like  that? 
.  .  .  But  we  must  keep  an  eye  on  the  boy. 
So  long  as  he  confines  his  offensive  remarks 
to  me,  there's  no  great  harm  done,  but  it 
would  be  a  bad  look  out  for  him  if  he  took 
it  into  his  head  to  treat  the  Major  or  Lieu- 
tenant von  Schaunberg  in  this  way,  for  they 
are  neither  of  them  very  patient.  {A  shot 
is  fired  in  the  distance.)     That's  a  shot  I 

ISABELLE 

Yes,  at  the  bottom  of  the  garden,  near 
the  wood. 

{Enter  hurriedly  the  Burgomaster 
and  Floris.) 

The  Burgomaster 
Did  you  hear  ?     A  rifle-shot ! 

Floris 

{Between  his  teeth.)      One  less. 
51 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Otto 
What  do  you  say? 

Floris 
Nothing.     I  can  say  what  I  like. 

The  Burgomaster 

(Anxiously.)  But  who  fired  the  shot? 
It  can  only  have  been  one  of  your  men. 
There's  not  a  fire-arm  left  in  this  house,  or 
anywhere  in  the  town. 

Otto 

It's  probably  my  brother-officer,  Lieu- 
tenant von  Schaunberg,  taking  a  stroll  in 
the  wood.  He's  very  fond  of  shooting; 
and  I  told  him  he'd  find  rabbits  there. 

The  Burgomaster 

Yes,  the  shot  came  from  that  side;  but 
there  wasn't  a  single  gun  in  the  house. 
52 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Otto 
He  always  carries  his  own  among  his 
kit.  In  any  case,  if  all  the  arms  are  at  the 
Town-hall,  you  have  no  cause  for  alarm. 
Do  you  answer  for  your  servants?  Are 
there  no  disaffected  ones  among  them? 

The  Burgomaster 

What  do  you  call  disaffected?  They 
are  irritated,  incensed,  indignant,  exasper- 
ated, that's  natural  enough ;  but  they  know 
how  to  restrain  themselves  and  are  not  such 
fools  as  to  attempt  a  useless  murder,  which 
would  entail  the  destruction  of  the  town 
and  the  death  of  hundreds  of  innocent  vic- 
tims, as  at  Dinant,  Andenne,  Louvain  and 
Aerschot.  I  know  them;  they  will  be  pa- 
tient and  bide  their  time. 

Otto 
What  time  ? 

53 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Burgomaster 
The  time  that  will  come  later. 

Otto 
I  don't  understand  you.     Here  you  are 
talking  like  our  worst  enemies ! 

The  Burgomaster 
Do  you  expect  me  to  be  one  of  your 
friends?  Would  you  insult  me  by  num- 
bering me  among  those  who  .  .  .  But  I 
won't  say  what  I  was  going  to  say,  it's  bet- 
ter not.  .  .  .  This  incident  has  unnerved 
me.  For  I  know  that  I  am  responsible 
and  that  if  any  unpleasantness  occurs,  it 
will  be  on  my  head. 

Otto 
I    hear    footsteps    outside    the    house. 
{Going  to  the  balcony-window  and  open- 
ing it.)     Is  that  you,  Sergeant  Hartung? 
What  is  it? 

54 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Sergeant 
{In  the  garden  below,  unseen.)      I  don't 
know,  sir.     I  saw  Lieutenant  von  Schaun- 
berg  go  that  way. 

Otto 

When? 

The  Sergeant 
A  quarter  of  an  hour  ago. 

Otto 
{To  the  Burgomaster.)     It's  what  I 
told  you :  he  has  gone  shooting  in  the  wood. 

The  Sergeant 
Beg  pardon,  sir,  he  had  no  gun  with  him. 

Otto 
Are  you  sure?     That's  odd.     Well,  run 
and  see  what  it  is,  instead  of  standing  there 
gaping! 

55 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Sergeant 
Very  good,  sir.     I  was  just  going  when 
you  stopped  me.     But  a  lot  of  my  men  are 
there  already. 

Otto 

I  hear  shouts.  There's  something  I 
don't  like  about  this.  But  here's  one  of 
your  men  coming  back;  he'll  tell  us  what 
has  happened. 

The  Sergeant 
Hurry  up,  there  I     What  was  it? 

The  Soldier 

{Also  in  the  garden,  unseen.)  The 
Lieutenant?     Where's  the  Lieutenant? 

Otto 

Here.  What's  the  matter?  Why 
don't  you  speak? 

56 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Soldier 
Sir  I     Lieutenant      von       Schaunbergl 
He's  been  murdered. 

Otto 
What?    Who?    Come  nearer  I    What 
are  you  saying  ? 

The  Soldier 
He's  dead. 

Otto 
When?     How?     Send    for    a    doctor. 
I'll     come     down.     Perhaps     he's     only 
wounded. 

The  Soldier 
No,  sir,  he  has  a  bullet  through  his  head. 
They  found  him  lying  in  the  bracken. 

Otto 
Have  they  arrested  the  murderer? 
57 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Soldier 
They're  hunting  in  the  wood.     They've 
seen  nobody. 

Otto 

(To  the  Sergeant.)  Have  sentries 
posted  at  all  the  gates.  Quick!  quick  I 
Shoot  any  one  at  sight  who  attempts  to 
leave  the  grounds.  He  can't  escape. 
Where's  the  Major? 

The  Sergeant 
I  don't  know,  sir. 

The  Burgomaster 
He's  probably  in  his  room,  on  the  other 
side  of  the  house.     He  won't  have  heard. 

Otto 
Send  and  tell  him. 

The  Burgomaster 
This  forebodes  no  good. 
58 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Otto 

Don't  be  afraid.  The  criminal  can't 
escape;  and,  when  we've  caught  him,  he 
shall  serve  as  an  example  that  will  make 
them  think  twice  before  they  do  it  again. 
Stay  here,  all  of  you.  Let  no  one  leave 
the  room,  or  I  won't  answer  for  the  con- 
sequences. It's  a  serious  matter,  a  very 
serious  matter. 

{Exit) 

CURTAIN 


59 


ACT  II 

Scene:     The  same. 

The  curtain  rises  on  the  Major,  the 
Burgomaster,  Otto,  the  Secre- 
tary and  ISABELLE. 

The  Major 
Mr.  Burgomaster,  Lieutenant  Karl  von 
Schaunberg  has  been  murdered  on  your 
premises,  in  your  grounds.  One  of  your 
gardeners  has  been  arrested  near  the  spot 
where  the  crime  was  committed.  We  may 
therefore  presume  him  to  be  the  culprit. 
In  any  case,  I  shall  consider  him  such,  until 
I  have  proof  to  the  contrary;  and  that  is 
enough.  We  must  make  an  example ;  our 
60 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

safety  demands  it;  and  our  safety  out- 
weighs all  other  considerations.  In  war- 
time, the  best  form  of  justice  is  the  prompt- 
est. Your  gardener,  therefore,  will  be 
shot  at  seven  o'clock,  precisely,  unless  be- 
tween now  and  then  you  hand  over  the 
person  who,  in  your  opinion,  is  the  crim- 
inal. You  know  the  character  and  dispo- 
sition of  your  servants  better  than  I  do; 
and  you  are  therefore  better  able  to  dis- 
cover the  malefactor.  I  have  it  in  my 
power  to  command  the  most  terrible  re- 
prisals. Any  one  else,  in  my  place,  would 
have  ordered  the  town  to  be  pillaged  and 
set  on  fire  and  sentenced  a  third  or  a  half 
of  the  inhabitants  to  death.  It  would  have 
been  more  regular.  Yielding  to  the 
wishes  of  Lieutenant  Otto  Hilmer,  I  will 
be  satisfied  with  a  single  victim.  Let  me 
have  no  cause  to  regret  my  clemency  and 
my  moderation. 

61 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Burgomaster 

I  repeat  what  I  said  to  the  men  who 
arrested  him :  it  is  quite  impossible  for  old 
Claus,  my  head-gardener,  to  have  com- 
mitted the  crime.  He  has  been  in  my 
service  for  over  forty  years;  and  I  can  an- 
swer for  him  as  I  would  for  myself.  He 
is  the  gentlest  of  men,  the  most  patient,  the 
most  harmless.  The  reason  why  he  was 
found  in  the  little  wood  where  the  Lieu- 
tenant was  killed  is  that  the  wood  contains 
a  nursery-garden  where  I  myself  sent  him, 
this  morning,  to  bud  the  rose-trees.  He 
had  no  weapons  on  him  except  his  pruning- 
shears  and  his  grafting-knife.  Besides,  I 
am  convinced  that,  of  all  my  servants  and 
workmen,  Claus  is  perhaps  the  only  one 
who  has  never  handled  a  gun  or  a  revolver 
in  his  life. 

The  Major 

Mr.  Burgomaster,  you  do  not  seem  to 
63 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

perceive  that,  by  exonerating  your  head- 
gardener,  you  are  accusing  and  condemning 
yourself.  But  I  will  not  argue  with  you; 
the  enquiry  is  not  my  affair.  Manage  it 
as  you  please ;  what  I  have  said  I  have  said. 
I  need  a  culprit ;  and  that  culprit  has  to  be 
shot  at  seven  o'clock.  It  shall  be  which- 
ever of  your  men  you  choose  to  name;  it 
shall  be  yourself,  if  you  give  me  no  one 
else.  Meanwhile,  please  consider  yourself 
under  arrest  in  your  own  house.  It  is 
guarded ;  and  any  attempt  at  escape  will  be 
pitilessly  suppressed.  I  will  let  you  know 
at  four  o'clock  the  amount  of  the  fine,  over 
and  above  the  war-levy,  which  the  town 
will  have  to  pay  before  twelve  o'clock  to- 
morrow morning.      {Exit.) 

The  Burgomaster 

This  is  sheer  lunacy  I     To  expect  me  to 
name   the   criminal   among  my   servants, 
63 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

when  I  know  that  it  is  physically  impossible 
for  any  of  them  to  be  guilty!  And,  if  I 
do  not  hand  him  over  before  this  evening, 
it  means  delivering  myself  to  the  firing- 
party!  .  .  .  You  must  admit  that  this 
Major  of  yours,  with  his  "  clemency  "  and 
his  "  moderation,"  has  a  very  unpleasant 
sense  of  humour.  I  would  rather  deal 
with  a  brute  who  runs  amuck  and  destroys 
everything  with  fire  and  sword:  then  at 
least  I  should  know  where  I  am. 

Otto 
What  would  you   have   him   do?     As 
things  are,  he  can  hardly  act  differently. 

ISABELLE 

Otto! 

Otto 
But,  after  all,  it's  true!     You  can  see 
for  yourself,  we  are  surrounded  by  enemies 
64 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

and  traitors;  we  are  surrounded  by  hatred 
on  every  side ;  we  live  in  a  perpetual  trap ; 
our  lives  hang  by  a  thread ;  and  every  one 
of  us  can  expect  a  bullet  through  his  head 
at  any  moment.  It  is  only  natural  that  we 
should  protect  ourselves,  when  we  are 
treated  like  this!  I  think  the  Major's  de- 
cision most  reasonable,  most  fair,  most  hu- 
mane. He  had  the  right,  it  was  almost  his 
duty,  in  fact,  to  put  the  whole  town  to 
death;  and  he  is  contented  with  a  single 
victim.  Surely  you  can't  ask  that  a  crime 
of  this  sort  should  remain  unpunished !  It 
would  be  the  end  of  us !  Besides,  you  will 
easily  find  the  criminal;  you  have  only  to 
confirm  the  evidence  that  points  to  him. 
The  mere  fact  of  his  presence  in  the  wood 
implies  so  grave  a  presumption  that  you 
will  never  destroy  it,  however  hard  you  try. 
All  you  have  to  do  is  to  leave  things  alone 
and  not  interfere.  Then,  if  the  Major  is 
65 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 
wrong,  the  mistake  will  be  on  his  head  I 

The  Burgomaster 

I  can  hardly  believe  my  ears,  Otto ! 
The  war  has  altered  you  completely.  You 
know  old  Claus  as  well  as  I  do.  You 
know  that,  of  all  men  in  my  employment, 
he  alone  most  likely  is  absolutely  incapable 
of  an  act  of  this  kind.  If  it  were  any  one 
else,  I  might  have  a  doubt,  I  might  say: 
"  Very  well,  perhaps.  In  war-time,  you 
can  never  tell."  But  Claus !  It's  as  much 
out  of  the  question  as  though  you  suggested 
that  the  shot  had  been  fired  by  the  child 
which  Isabelle  is  about  to  bring  into  the 
world!  ...  "A  grave  presumption!" 
How  dare  you  say  that?  You  know  why 
the  poor  fellow  was  in  the  nursery-garden : 
I  sent  him  there  myself,  when  he  came  to 
take  my  orders  at  six  o'clock  this  morning. 
If  I  don't  do  all  that  can  be  done  to  prove 
66 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

his  Innocence,  it  is  as  though  I  myself  were 
commanding  the  firing-party.  .  .  . 

Otto 
And,  if  you  do  prove  his  innocence,  you 
will  be  putting  yourself  in  his  place,  in  front 
of  the  firing-party. 

The  Burgomaster 
Very  well,  I'd  rather  have  it  that  way ! 
.  .  .  But  surely  that  isn't  possible. 

Otto 
It  won't  be,  unless  you  want  it  yourself. 
We  have  ample  time  before  us.     It  is  al- 
most certain  that  the  real  criminal  will  be 
discovered  between  now  and  this  evening. 

The  Burgomaster 

The    real    criminal?     Do    you    know 

where    you've    got    to    look    for    him? 

Among  your  own  men !     It  is  simply  one 

67 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

of  your  soldiers  who  has  taken  the  oppor- 
tunity to  rid  himself  of  an  officer  who  Ill- 
treated  him.  You  yourself  told  me,  be- 
fore the  Major  came  In,  that  Lieutenant 
von  Schaunberg  was  an  Insufferable  lout 
and  that  he  was  generally  hated  and 
loathed. 

Otto 
I  dare  say;  but  it's  a  far  cry  from  that 
to  murder.  In  any  case,  I  will  myself 
make  enquiries  on  that  side;  you,  on  yours, 
had  better  question  Claus;  he  may  give  us 
a  clue  that  will  prove  useful. 

The  Burgomaster 
I  don't  mind,  but  I  don't  expect  much: 
the  poor  man  evidently  knows  nothing,  or 
he  would  have  told  me  already.  Between 
ourselves,  do  you  think  the  Major  was 
speaking  seriously?  Does  he  really  mean 
to  place  me  In  this  awful  dilemma  and  con- 
68 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

demn  me  to  death  if  I  refuse  to  surrender 
an  innocent  man  ? 

Otto 
You  stand  no  chance  whatever  that  way. 
I  have  never  known  him  to  go  back  upon  a 
decision  which  he  has  once  taken.  There 
is  no  hope  of  that  at  all;  but  there  is  every 
hope  elsewhere.  We  will  all  of  us  set  to 
work.  You  begin  by  questioning  Claus; 
I'll  go  and  see  my  men. 

ISABELLE 

And  may  I  go  out  ? 

Otto 
What  for? 

ISABELLE 

You  can't  expect  me  to  sit  quiet  while 
my  father's  life  is  at  stake  I     I  want  to  go 
into  the  town,  to  see  people,  talk  to  them, 
69 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

ask  them  questions,  to  do  something!  .  .  . 
Surely  our  united  efforts  .  .  . 

Otto 
Very  well,  come  with  me,  I'll  get  the 
permit. 

The  Burgomaster 
Is  Claus  there? 

Otto 
He's  under  arrest  and  guarded  by  my 
men;  I'll  send  him  to  you.      {Exit  with 
isabelle.) 

The  Secretary 
I  will  leave  you  also,  Mr.  Burgomaster. 
I  must  go  and  see  the  sheriffs  and  council- 
lors.    Perhaps  they  can  take  steps  or  inter- 
fere in  some  way.  .  .  . 

The  Burgomaster 
Yes,    my    dear    Pierre,    go.     {Shakes 
70 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

hands  with  him.)  There  are  bad  mo- 
ments in  a  man's  life  .  .  .  But  here  is 
Claus.     Leave  me  with  him. 

{Exit  the  Secretary.  Enter 
Claus,  with  his  clothes  torn  and 
his  head  covered  with  bruises  and 
scratches.) 

Claus 
Good-morning,  Mr.  Burgomaster. 

y  The  Burgomaster 

Well,  my  poor  Claus?  Why,  what 
have  they  been  doing  to  you?  You're 
bleeding  at  the  mouth  and  forehead. 

Claus 
There's  no  great  harm  done,  Mr.  Bur- 
gomaster.    They  knocked  me  about  a  bit, 
because  I  didn't  at  once  understand  what 
they  wanted  with  me;  but  there's  no  great 
71 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

harm  done.     Luckily  I  had  on  an  old  shirt 
and  my  third-best  trousers. 

The  Burgomaster 
You  know  what  you're  accused  of? 

Claus 
Yes,  Mr.  Burgomaster;  I  didn't  under- 
stand at  first,  but  Mr.  Otto  has  explained. 

The  Burgomaster 
You  and  I  have  worked  together  for 
over  forty  years,  my  dear  old  Claus,  and 
neither  of  us  has  anything  to  say  against 
the  other.     Do  you  trust  me  ? 

Claus 
Yes,  Mr.  Burgomaster. 

The  Burgomaster 
Then  tell  me  all  you  know.     Speak  with- 
out fear.     I  give  you  my  word  that  what- 
ever you  say  will  remain  between  ourselves. 

73 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Claus 
I  don't  know  much,  Mr.  Burgomaster. 
I  was  in  the  nursery-garden  where  you  told 
me  to  go  this  morning;  I  was  trimming  the 
rose-trees.  They  needed  it,  Mr.  Burgo- 
master, I  can  tell  you,  especially  the  Paul 
Nerons,  which  had  suckers  as  high  as  that. 
And  the  Malmaisons  and  Marshal  Neils 
are  getting  the  blight,  Mr.  Burgomaster. 

The  Burgomaster 
The  blight?     I'm  surprised  at  that;  I 
didn't  notice   any   two   days   ago.     How 
much  of  the  insecticide  have  we  left? 

Claus 
Only  a  gallon  or  so,  Mr.  Burgomaster. 

The  Burgomaster 
That's   not   enough.     I'll    order   some 
more    to-morrow.  .  .  .  And    then    what 
happened? 

73 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Claus 
Then,  Mr.  Burgomaster,  I  heard  a  shot. 

The  Burgomaster 
From  which  side?     At  what  distance? 

Claus 
Not  very  far,  Mr.  Burgomaster.     Per- 
haps forty  or  fifty  yards  from  where  I  was 
working. 

The  Burgomaster 
And  then  ? 

Claus 
I  went  on  with  my  work,  Mr.  Burgo- 
master, saying  to  myself  that  a  shot  more 
or  less  in  war-time  was  no  reason  to  make 
me  desert  my  rose-trees.  Then  I  heard 
shouts;  I  came  out  of  the  nursery,  to  see 
what  was  happening;  some  German  sol- 
diers saw  me,  fell  upon  me,  shook  me, 
74 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

struck  me  and  kept  shouting,  "  Kaput  I 
Kaput  1  "  Then  they  dragged  me  to  the 
house;  and  Mr.  Otto  rescued  me  from 
them  and  locked  me  up  in  the  seed-house. 

The  Burgomaster 

After  the  shot  was  fired,  did  you  see  no 
one  near  you,  no  one  running  away  under 
the  trees?  Did  you  hear  nothing,  notice 
nothing? 

Claus 
As  you  know,  Mr.  Burgomaster,  there's 
a  thick  hedge  all  the  way  round  the  nursery 
and  you  can't  see  what  happens   in  the 
woods. 

The  Burgomaster 

Now  is  there  any  one  whom  you  suspect 

among  the  workmen  and  gardeners?     Is 

there  any  one  who  has  let  himself  go  at  all 

and  who  has  said  things  that  may  put  us 

75 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

on  the  right  track?  Once  more,  I  give  you 
my  word  that  all  this  will  remain  strictly 
between  ourselves. 

Claus 

The  young  men,  Mr.  Burgomaster,  the 
hot-headed  ones,  are  gone :  they  have  all 
joined  the  army.  There's  none  left  here 
but  old  men  like  you  and  me,  who  know 
that  you  can't  fight  against  God's  will  and 
that  any  show  of  violence  only  makes 
things  worse  for  us. 

The  Burgomaster 

Well,  in  the  town  or  outside,  don't  you 
know  of  some  reckless  fellow  who  might 
have  committed  the  murder? 

Claus 

That's  not  so  easy  to  answer,  Mr.  Bur- 
gomaster.    But  I've  thought  and  thought; 
76 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

and,  since  the  young  men  are  gone,  there's 
no  one  I  can  think  of. 


The  Burgomaster 

You're  a  Christian,  Claus,  you're  a  re- 
ligious man;  and  I've  always  respected  you 
for  it.  Do  you  swear  that  what  you  have 
told  me  is  the  exact  truth  and  that  you  are 
keeping  nothing  from  me? 

Claus 

I  swear  it,  Mr.  Burgomaster,  as  I  hope 
to  be  saved. 

The  Burgomaster 

I  believe  you,  my  dear  old  Claus,  and 
there  was  no  need  for  you  to  take  that  oath. 
But  the  fact  is  that  all  this  is  very  impor- 
tant to  me,  for  my  life  depends  upon 
it.  .  .  . 

77 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Claus 
Your  life?     How  do  you  mean,   Mr. 
Burgomaster? 

The  Burgomaster 

I  may  as  well  tell  you  that,  if  I  declare 
you  to  be  innocent  and  if  I  don't  produce 
the  criminal,  it's  I  who  will  be  shot  in  your 
place  this  evening. 

Claus 

You,  Mr.  Burgomaster?  Why? 
You've  done  nothing!  It's  impossible; 
people  don't  do  such  things  I 

The  Burgomaster 

Yes,  they  do,  my  dear  Claus:  it's  what 
they  did  at  Aerschot,  what  they've  done 
everywhere  and  what  they  mean  to  do  here 
as  well.  Otto  himself  told  me  that  noth- 
ing could  prevent  it. 

78 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Claus 

It  can't  be  possible,  Mr.  Burgomaster, 
it  would  be  too  unjust!  .  .  .  We  shall  find 
the  man  who  did  it,  or  the  man  himself 
when  he  hears,  will  feel  ashamed  and  will 
give  himself  up.  .  .  .  Or  else  you  will  be 
able  to  escape:  Mr.  Otto  will  help  you. 
Something  will  happen ;  and  I  am  sure  that 
God  will  not  permit  .  .  . 

The  Burgomaster 
He  permits  plenty  of  other  things,  my 
poor  Claus;  He  is  permitting  everything 
to-day.  The  only  thing  that  will  happen 
is  my  death;  and  we  may  think  ourselves 
lucky  if  nothing  worse  happens.  You 
know  as  I  do  that  escape  is  quite  impos- 
sible. Otto  might  try  and  help  me,  as  a 
last  resort;  but  then  he  would  be  shot  in 
my  place;  and  that  would  not  be  fair 
either.  But  all  hope  is  not  lost.  Otto  is 
79 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

at  this  moment  making  enquiries  among 
his  men;  that  may  lead  to  something. 
You,  in  your  turn,  must  collect  our  labour- 
ers and  speak  to  them.  You  have  great 
influence  with  them;  they  will  listen  to  you. 
Explain  the  position  to  them;  and,  if  one 
of  them  knows  the  guilty  man,  you  must 
arrange  things  among  yourselves.  I  do 
not  ask  them  to  betray  him  or  to  surrender 
him.  I  will  not  mix  myself  up  in  it. 
They  must  settle  among  themselves  what 
is  the  right  thing  to  do. 

Claus 

I  will  speak  to  them,  Mr.  Burgomaster; 
and  you  may  be  sure  that,  if  the  man  who 
did  it  is  one  of  them,  he  will  do  his  duty. 

The  Burgomaster 

Get  them  to  come  to  the  palm-house ;  say 
there's  some  urgent  work  to  be  done  be- 
80 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

cause  of  the  damage  last  night.  I  will  ask 
Otto  to  let  you  come  and  go  freely.  Ah, 
here  he  is ! 

{Enter  Otto.) 

The  Burgomaster 
Otto,  I  have  questioned  Claus;  I  told 
you  that  he  was  as  innocent  as  you  or  I; 
as  I  thought,  he  has  no  information  to  give 
me.  Can  you  take  it  upon  yourself  to  let 
him  move  about  freely,  so  that  he  may  see 
the  gardeners  and  workmen  and  make  en- 
quiries which  may  lead  to  the  discovery  of 
the  murderer? 

Otto 
By  all  means;  I  trust  him  fully.     Come 
with  me,  Claus;  I'll  give  the  necessary  or- 
ders.    {Exit  with  Claus.) 

The  Burgomaster 
{Taking  out  his  watch  and  looking  at 
81 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

the  clock.)  Three  o'clock.  There's  not 
much  time  to  lose.  {Enter  Otto.) 
Well,  what  have  you  learnt  on  your  side  ? 

Otto 

I  am  feeling  a  little  less  uneasy;  but 
everything  depends  on  you.  To  begin 
with,  Dr.  van  Cassel,  of  this  town,  has 
made  a  hurried  post-mortem  examination. 
It  appears  that  the  bullet  entered  by  the 
back  of  the  neck,  passed  through  the  brain 
and  came  out  at  the  forehead.  The  bullet 
has  not  been  found.  The  wound  shows 
that  it  was  of  military  calibre. 

The  Burgomaster 
That's  something,   at  any  rate,   for  it 
proves  that  there  is  no  question  of  a  sport- 
ing-gun. 

Otto 
Yes,  but  it  may  have  been  a  revolver- 

82 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

bullet.  Also,  I  don't  believe  It  Is  possible 
that  one  of  our  men  committed  the  crime. 
At  the  time  when  the  shot  was  fired,  we 
had  only  a  hundred  and  fifty  men  here.  In 
addition  to  a  dozen  Uhlans.  The  soldiers 
stacked  their  rifles  in  the  square  and  never 
left  the  square.  Six  men,  with  their  arms, 
were  posted  In  the  little  yard  behind  the 
stables  and  they  never  left  the  yard. 
These  are  the  men  who  ran  up  after  the 
shot  was  fired.  As  for  the  Uhlans,  with 
the  exception  of  two  who  were  on  sentry 
duty  outside  the  house,  they  were  groom- 
ing their  horses  In  the  stable  of  the  Uni- 
corn Hotel.  I  have  personally  examined 
the  arms  of  those  six  men.  They  did  not 
look  as  If  they  had  been  used  this  morning 
at  all;  the  barrels  were  oiled  and  shiny, 
they  might  have  just  come  from  the  gun- 
smith's. 


83 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Burgomaster 
It  is  easy  enough  to  pohsh  up  a  rifle- 
barrel. 

Otto 
Of    course;    but    remember    that    the 
Major  will  never  admit  that  one  of  his  men 
committed  the  murder,  unless  we  bring  him 
a  concrete  and  undeniable  proof. 

The  Burgomaster 
So  there  is  nothing  more  to  be  hoped  for 
in  that  direction? 

Otto 
I  fear  not. 

The  Burgomaster 
That  closes  one  more  door  against  us. 
Have  you  seen  the  Major  since  ? 

Otto 
Yes;  and  I  came  away  with  a  very  hope- 
84 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

ful  feeling.  But,  once  more,  everything 
will  depend  upon  yourself.  .  .  .  First  of 
all,  though,  here  is  the  proclamation  which 
he  handed  me  for  you  to  sign.  I  may  tell 
you,  it  is  already  in  print  and  will  soon  be 
posted  in  the  town. 

The  Burgomaster 
Show  me  the  proclamation. 

Otto 
I'll  read  it  to  you :  "  A  dastardly  at- 
tack having  been  committed  on  an  officer 
of  the  German  army,  if  the  culprit  is  not 
delivered  before  seven  o'clock  this  evening 
precisely,  the  Burgomaster  of  the  town  of 
Stilemonde,  being  responsible,  will  be  pub- 
licly shot  at  the  hour  aforesaid.  If  any 
other  attempt  were  made,  the  town  will 
be  looted  and  set  on  fire ;  and  the  tenth  man 
of  all  the  male  inhabitants  will  be  put  to 

death." 

85 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Burgomaster 
He  wants  me  to  sign  that,  does  he? 

Otto 
You  must.     Besides,  he  has  taken  your 
consent  for  granted,  for  your  signature  al- 
ready appears  at  the  foot  of  the  sheet. 

The  Burgomaster 
Then  it  was  scarcely  worth  while  asking 
me  to  sign  it. 

Otto 
It  was  more  regular  and  more  correct. 

The  Burgomaster 
And  suppose  I  refuse? 

Otto 
You  will  be  no  better  off;  he  will  do 
without  and  will  not  forgive  you  for  re- 
fusing. 

86 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Burgomaster 
What  more  can  he  do  than  shoot  me  ? 

Otto 

You  are  not  the  only  one  whom  he  can 
order  to  be  shot. 

The  Burgomaster 

That's  true.  After  all,  I  am  only  sign- 
ing my  own  death-warrant  and  am  wrong- 
ing nobody.  {Signing  the  paper.) 
There,  that's  done.  But  wait:  what  about 
improving  the  grammar  a  bit? 

Otto 

You  had  better  not  try.  He  is  per- 
suaded that  it  is  above  criticism. 

The  Burgomaster 

My  poor  Otto,  I  believe  there's  nothing 
left  for  me  to  do  but  make  my  will.     It  is 
87 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

made;  but  I  should  like  to  revise  it  and 
alter  a  few  of  the  bequests. 

Otto 

Don't  say  that  and  don't  lose  courage; 
you  still  have  several  chances  of  escape. 

The  Burgomaster 
Really?     I  don't  see  one. 

Otto 
To  begin  with,  there's  this:  the  Major 
is  so  thoroughly  convinced  of  Claus's  guilt 
that  he  is  quite  capable  of  having  him  shot 
together  with  yourself,  if  you  persist  in 
proclaiming  his  innocence.  He  has  taken 
it  into  his  head  that  you  are  absolutely 
determined  to  save  Claus  from  the  punish- 
ment which  he  deserves.  In  reality,  he  is 
not  at  all  keen  on  having  you  shot;  I  could 
see  that;  he  bears  you  no  ill-will.  .  .  . 
88 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Burgomaster 
That's  very  good  of  him.  .  .  . 

Otto 

But  he  must  have  an  example  at  all  costs ; 
on  this  point  his  mind  is  fully  made  up; 
and  I  am  bound  to  say  that  I  agree  with 
him.  I  gathered  that,  if  need  be,  he  will 
cease  to  demand  that  you  should  declare 
Claus  guilty.  It  will  be  enough  for  you  to 
keep  quiet,  to  make  no  fuss  and  not  to  pro- 
test the  man's  innocence.  You  have  only 
to  know  nothing  of  what  happens. 

The  Burgomaster 
Indeed?     And  you,  what  would  you  do 
in  my  place? 

Otto 
I   should  not   hesitate.     After   all,   as 
there  are  two  innocent  men,  why  should 
you,  who  are  unquestionably  the  more  inno- 

89 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

cent  of  the  two,  be  the  one  to  suffer?  We 
are  at  war;  war  brings  strokes  of  good  and 
bad  luck  which  have  nothing  in  common 
with  the  chances  of  ordinary  life.  Those 
upon  whom  ill-luck  falls  can  only  accept 
their  fate.  The  others  are  not  responsible 
for  an  injustice  in  which  they  have  no  more 
share,  in  which  they  take  no  more  part 
than,  let  me  say,  in  the  injustice  of  a  bridge 
that  breaks  down  or  a  factory-chimney  that 
falls  to  the  ground,  burying  a  dozen  victims 
in  its  ruins. 

The  Burgomaster 

All  this  is  much  too  subtle  for  me.  I 
see  and  understand  one  thing  only:  Claus 
is  innocent.  If  I  do  not  declare  the  fact 
aloud,  by  your  Major's  own  decision  my 
silence  becomes  tantamount  to  a  formal 
accusation  and,  to  save  my  own  life,  I  shall 
be  sending  a  man  whom  I  know  to  be  inno- 
90 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

cent  to  face  the  firing-party.     Is  there  a 
name  for  that  action  in  German  ? 

Otto 
You  refuse  to  understand.  Whatever 
happens,  from  your  point  of  view  an  injus- 
tice is  bound  to  be  committed.  The  ques- 
tion is  who  shall  be  the  victim,  you  or 
Claus.  Why  should  you  die  rather  than 
he? 

The  Burgomaster 
And  why  he  rather  than  I  ? 

Otto 
Because  he  has  been  appointed  by  fate, 
chance,  destiny,  or  whatever  you  like  to 
call  it.  You  are  not  responsible  for  his 
death;  and  there  is  no  reason  why  you 
should  shout,  like  Nisis,  "  I,  I  am  here,  I 
did  itl  Let  me  die  in  his  stead!  "  This 
is  not  the  time  and  place  for  theatrical  dis- 
play or  inopportune  heroism. 
91 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Burgomaster 
You  are  quite  right;  and,  if,  in  order  to 
save  Claus,  I  went  and  said  to  the  Major, 
"  You  need  look  no  further,  it  is  I  who 
killed  the  Lieutenant,"  I  should,  as  you 
say,  be  making  a  display  of  inopportune 
heroism  for  which  I  am  not  at  all  fitted. 
There  is  nothing  of  the  hero  about  me;  I 
am  just  a  poor,  respectable  man,  like  the 
other  men  of  this  town;  like  the  other  men, 
I  fear  death;  and  I  am  as  much  attached  to 
life  as  any  one  else,  indeed  perhaps  more, 
for  my  life  hitherto  has  been  happier  than 
I  deserved.  I  should  like  to  end  it  as 
calmly  as  possible,  but  even  so,  I  want  to 
end  it  decently.  It  is  all  very  well  for  you 
to  say  that  Claus,  innocent  as  he  is,  must 
die  because  he  has  been  selected  by  fate 
and  that  I  am  not  responsible  for  what  hap- 
pens to  him.  But  I  too  am  selected  by 
fate  I  If  an  unlucky  chance  brought  him 
92 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

on  the  scene  of  the  murder,  a  similar  and 
equally  unlucky  chance  has  placed  me  at  the 
head  of  this  town  at  a  moment  of  terrible 
responsibility  and  danger.  Our  position, 
looked  at  from  the  point  of  view  of  ill- 
luck  and  of  the  excuse  which  you  are  trying 
to  find  in  destiny,  is  absolutely  the  same. 
If  Claus  had  in  his  hands  the  power  which 
I  have  in  mine,  if  my  life  or  death  de- 
pended on  his  evidence  alone  and  if,  know- 
ing me  to  be  innocent,  he  proclaimed  me 
guilty,  you  would  consider  him  a  monster 
or  the  meanest  of  cowards;  yet  he  would 
be  doing  exactly  what  you  wish  me  to  do. 
He  and  I  are  both  marked  down,  to  the 
same  extent,  by  the  same  fatality  and  we 
stand  an  equal  chance;  but  you  are  urging 
me  to  cheat  and  to  take  an  unfair  advan- 
tage against  a  decent  man  who  cannot  pro- 
tect himself  and  who  trusts  me.  I  should 
be  only  too  glad  to  be  convinced  by  what 
93 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

you  say,  but  that  is  out  of  the  question; 
and  I  cannot  understand  how  you  yourself 
do  not  understand  I 

Otto 

Very  well,  let  us  drop  argument,  since 
you  will  not  listen  to  reason.  Let  us  admit 
that  the  position  is  the  same  in  both  cases; 
but,  as  a  choice  has  to  be  made  between 
two  lives,  would  you  consider  your  own, 
which  is  useful  and  necessary  to  all,  of  no 
more  value  than  that  of  a  poor  devil  who 
has  no  relations,  no  children,  no  one  to  re- 
gret him,  who  does  no  public  service  and 
who  will  soon  be  a  burden  to  the  com- 
munity? 

The  Burgomaster 

Old  Claus's  life  is  worth  just  as  much 
as  mine;  and  my  answer  would  be  the  same 
if,  instead  of  being  the  respectable.  God- 
fearing man  that  he  is,  he  were  the  lowest 
94 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

of  scoundrels.  It  is  here  a  question  not 
of  weighing  the  value  or  the  usefulness  of 
a  man's  life,  but  of  knowing  whether  or  not 
I  am  to  dishonour  my  own. 

Otto 
You  really  amaze  me !  You  scarcely 
seem  to  be  the  same  man,  the  wise,  prudent 
person,  the  man  of  tact  and  discretion,  who 
did  me  the  honour  to  entrust  me  with  his 
daughter  1 

The  Burgomaster 
I  certainly  did  not  realize  to  what  sort 
of  man  I  was  giving  her. 

Otto 
I  will  be  fairer  and  more  reasonable 
than  you  are;  and  I  do  not  abandon  the 
hope  of  saving  you  in  spite  of  yourself. 
You  have  time  for  reflection;  you  have 
three  hours  before  you;  and  I  shall  see 
95 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

that  you  are  free  to  make  your  choice  until 
the  very  last  minute. 

The  Burgomaster 

My  choice  is  made.  The  longer  I  re- 
flect, the  more  clearly  I  shall  see  that  any 
decent  man  in  my  place  would  do  as  I  am 
doing  and  that  I  cannot  do  otherwise. 
{Enter  Claus.)  But  here  comes  Claus, 
bringing  us  news,  which  perhaps  will  show 
how  futile  all  this  discussion  has  been. 
Well,  Claus,  what  have  you  heard? 

Claus 
I'll  tell  you,  Mr.  Burgomaster.  I  called 
my  gardeners  into  the  palm-house.  They 
were  all  there  except  old  Decoster,  who  is 
ill  in  bed,  and  the  young  men  who  left  a 
fortnight  ago.  I  told  them  what  had  hap- 
pened and  what  was  going  to  happen. 
They  understood  and  they  were  wild  with 
96 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

indignation.  I  saw  quite  plainly  that  they 
knew  nothing  and  could  do  nothing.  And 
I  also  know  that,  if  the  guilty  man  was 
among  them,  they  would  have  no  need  to 
accuse  him  and  to  hand  him  over.  He 
would  have  handed  himself  over.  They 
all  had  tears  in  their  eyes,  Mr.  Burgo- 
master, and  in  their  hearts  something  of 
which  I  won't  speak,  in  Mr.  Otto's  pres- 
ence. 

The  Burgomaster 
I  was  sure  of  it. 

Claus 
And   now,    Mr.    Burgomaster,   may   I 
make  a   suggestion?     I  will  say  this  in 
Mr.  Otto's  presence,  for  there  is  no  harm 
in  his  repeating  it  to  the  Major. 

The  Burgomaster 
What  is  it,  Claus? 
97 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Claus 
It's  like  this,  Mr.  Burgomaster;  I've 
been  thinking  things  over.  I'm  an  old 
man,  I  shall  be  sixty-three  by  the  end  of 
next  month.  I'm  a  widower,  Mr.  Burgo- 
master, and  I  have  no  children.  I  suffer  a 
good  deal;  and  my  life,  which  is  nearly 
finished,  isn't  worth  much,  Mr.  Burgomas- 
ter. So  I  said  to  myself,  Mr.  Burgomas- 
ter, "  Claus,  old  man,  seeing  that  you  were 
found  near  the  Lieutenant  who  was  killed, 
it  would  perhaps  be  better  if  you  did  not 
say  that  it  wasn't  you  who  killed  him." 

Otto 
Then  you  admit  that  you  killed  him? 

Claus 

No,  Mr.  Otto,  I  can't  admit  that  I  killed 

him,  because  I  didn't.     I  have  only  to  say 

nothing  next  time  they  accuse  me.     Or 

98 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

else  I  will  ask  the  Major  to  have  me  shot 
instead  of  the  Burgomaster.  The  Burgo- 
master's life  is  necessary  to  everybody  here, 
especially  at  this  time,  whereas  mine  is  no 
longer  of  much  use  to  anybody. 

Otto 

You  see?  It's  exactly  what  I  said. 
There's  no  more  ground  for  hesitation. 
This  good  man  understands  his  duty  and 
yours  better  than  you  do.  Claus,  old  fel- 
low, give  me  your  hand. 

Claus 

{Withdrawing  his  hand.)  No,  Mr. 
Otto,  excuse  me.  I  have  been  digging  up 
the  ground  and  I  should  soil  your  white 
gloves. 

The  Burgomaster 
I  not  only  want  to   shake  both  your 
99 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

hands,  though  they  be  covered  with  earth, 
but  I  want  to  take  you  in  my  arms  as  I 
would  a  brother,  my  dear  old  Claus. 
{Clasps  him  in  his  arms.)  And  now  let 
there  be  no  more  question  of  all  this. 
What  you  propose  to  do  is  very  beautiful 
and,  coming  from  you,  does  not  astonish 
me  at  all;  but  it  is  not  practicable.  To 
begin  with,  I  have  no  right  to  accept  your 
sacrifice.  It  is  very  fine  of  you  to  offer  it, 
but  it  would  be  mean  and  hateful  of  me  to 
accept  it.  Besides,  if  I  did  accept  It,  unless 
you  formally  declared  yourself  guilty,  It  Is 
pretty  nearly  certain  that  the  Major  on  his 
side  would  refuse  it.  What  he  wants.  In 
order  to  make  a  striking  example.  Is  not 
your  life,  but  mine,  or  the  murderer's. 

Claus 
I  will  say  anything  that  I  have  to,  so  as 
to  die  in  your  place,  Mr.  Burgomaster. 
100 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Otto 

( To  the  Burgomaster.)  In  that  case, 
the  Major  will  accept;  I'll  answer  for  him. 
Leave  it  to  mc  and  look  upon  yourself  as 
saved. 

The  Burgomaster 

But  don't  you  see  that  it's  the  same  thing 
as  before,  that  it  means  handing  over  an 
innocent  man  to  execution  and  that,  the 
more  you  try  to  obscure  it,  the  clearer  my 
duty  becomes?  If  I  will  not  permit  Claus 
to  die  voluntarily  in  my  stead  while  declar- 
ing himself  innocent,  still  less  can  I  allow 
him  to  do  so  by  declaring  himself  guilty, 
when  I  know  that  he  is  not.  That  would 
be  committing  two  mean  actions  instead  of 
one. 

Otto 

( Trying  to  drag  Claus  away. )     Come, 
101 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Glaus,  we  will  save  him  in  spite  of  himself. 
Come  along  to  the  Major. 

The  Burgomaster 
Claus,  stay  here.  You  love  me,  my 
dear  old  Claus :  you  have  just  given  me  the 
most  beautiful  and  positive  proof  that  one 
man  can  give  to  another.  I  will  ask  you 
for  yet  another  proof,  perhaps  even  more 
trying;  it  shall  be  the  last.  Promise  me 
that,  whatever  happens,  you  will  not  go  to 
the  Major. 

Claus 
Mr.   Burgomaster,    Mr.   Burgomaster, 
you  know  what  is  right  better  than  I  do. 
.  .  .   (Sobbing.)     But  I  meant  it  with  all 
my  heart,  Mr.  Burgomaster. 

The  Burgomaster 
{Embracing!  him.)     Good-bye,  my  dear 
Claus. 

102 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Claus 
Good-bye,  Mr.  Burgomaster. 

Otto 
I  can't  understand  a  syllable  of  all  this. 
It's  simply  a  mad  craving  for  martyrdom. 

The  Burgomaster 
No,  my  dear  fellow,  it's  only  the  way 
decent  folk  behave  in  this  country.     {A 
knock  at  the  door.)     Come  in  I      (Enter 
the  Footman.)     What  is  it? 

The  Footman 
Mr.  Burgomaster,  the  Major  has  sent 
to  ask  you  and  Lieutenant  Otto  to  go  with 
him  to  the  Town-hall. 

The  Burgomaster 
Of  course,  I  was  forgetting  the  war- 
levy  and  the  fine.     We  shall  have  a  tough 
discussion.     I'm  reckoning  on  you.  Otto. 
103 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 
Otto 

I  will  do  my  best,  but  I  can't  promise 
much:  the  Major  seldom  allows  any  one 
to  differ  from  him. 

The  Burgomaster 

What's  the  time?  Past  four?  And 
here  was  I  quietly  attending  to  private 
matters,  as  though  I  were  all  alone  in  the 
world!  It  is  time  that  we  were  thinking 
of  others. 

CURTAIN 


104 


ACT  III 

Scene:     The  same. 

The  curtain  rises  on  the  Burgomaster, 
the  Secretary,  Isabelle  and 
Floris. 

The  Burgomaster 

As  you  were  not  present  at  the  meeting, 
Mr.  Secretary,  I  will  tell  you  what  was 
decided.  The  question  of  the  war-levy 
and  of  the  fine  inflicted  on  the  town  for  the 
death  of  Lieutenant  von  Schaunberg  is  set- 
tled. The  Major  demanded  five  hundred 
thousand  francs  for  the  levy  and  two  mil- 
lions for  the  fine.  .  .  . 
105 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Floris 

Two  hundred  thousand  times  what  he 
was  worth  I 

The  Burgomaster 
There's  no  doubt  about  that.  ...  I 
persuaded  the  Major,  not  without  diffi- 
culty, to  agree  to  a  lump  sum  of  a  million, 
which  must  be  paid  before  midday  to- 
morrow. I  have  in  my  safe  fifty  thousand 
francs  in  cash,  which  I  place  at  the  disposal 
of  the  town.  De  Cuyper's  Bank  will  pay 
us  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  francs, 
Sheriff  van  den  Bulke  fifty  thousand  and 
Councillor  de  Rudder  seventy-five  thousand 
francs.  That  makes  nearly  half  a  million 
certain.  Sheriff  Vermandel  will  try  to  get 
the  rest  of  the  money  from  the  town- 
councillors  and  the  leading  inhabitants. 
You  will  assist  him  in  his  efforts.  Every- 
thing therefore  is  more  or  less  settled;  and 
106 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

I  can  go  without  too  much  anxiety.  The 
conditions  are  hard,  but,  taken  all  round, 
they  are  better  than  I  hoped;  and  Stile- 
monde will  not  suffer  unduly  from  the  occu- 
pation. In  any  case,  its  fate  is  almost  envi- 
able, compared  with  that  of  many  other 
towns.  It  owes  this  favour  largely  to 
Otto's  presence.  He  really  did  all  he  could 
without  dangerously  compromising  him- 
self. I  want  to  recognize  this  in  your 
presence  and  to  do  him  justice.  ...  I 
have  said  good-bye  to  the  sheriffs,  the  coun- 
cillors and  all  my  friends  at  the  Town-hall. 
I  was  very  much  touched;  I  had  no  idea 
that  they  cared  so  much  for  me.  Sheriff 
Vermandel  was  really  quite  distressing: 
I've  never  seen  a  man  look  so  sad.  He 
clung  to  me,  wanted  to  die  in  my  place. 
I  had  the  greatest  difficulty  in  making  him 
understand  that  it  was  not  his  turn  and 
that  his  sacrifice  would  be  impossible  and 
107 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

useless.  Father  de  Coninck,  the  Rector  of 
St.  John  the  Baptist's,  arrived  at  the  end 
of  the  meeting  and  asked  the  Major  why 
he  had  not  taken  him  for  a  hostage  as  well 
as  myself.  He  said  that  it  was  an  honour 
to  which  he  was  entitled.  Splendid  of 
him,  the  way  he  demanded  his  share.  The 
Major  replied  that  he  would  lose  nothing 
by  waiting.  Say  what  you  will,  there  are 
good  men  left  in  the  world.  {Looking  at 
the  clock.)  Half-past  five.  We  have  an 
hour  and  a  half  before  us.  But  you  have 
no  time  to  lose,  my  dear  Pierre;  go  and  see 
to  your  affairs.  I  will  wait  here  with  my 
children  until  Otto  returns.  By  the  way, 
what  has  become  of  our  wounded  soldier, 
your  friend  Gilson?  We  have  been  for- 
getting him. 

The  Secretary 
Firmin  put  him  in  the  chauffeur's  room. 
108 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

I  looked  in  there  a  moment  ago.  He  was 
sleeping  soundly,  like  a  child,  and  he  knows 
nothing. 

The  Burgomaster 
So  much  the  better.     Be  sure  and  keep 
an  eye  on  him  when  I  am  gone,  for  he 
might  commit  some  imprudence. 

The  Secretary 

Make  your  mind  easy;  I'll  see  to  it.     Au 
revoir,  Mr.  Burgomaster. 

The  Burgomaster 

{Shaking  hands  with  him.)  Au  revoir. 
Yes,  perhaps  we  shall  see  each  other  again. 
{Exit  the  Secretary.)  Otto  has  gone  to 
make  a  last  appeal  to  the  Major.  I  have 
no  great  hope  of  his  succeeding.  I  shall 
be  leaving  you  soon,  my  dears,  and  I  want 
to  give  you  my  last  injunctions. 
109 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

(IsABELLE  and  Floris  fling  them- 
selves into  their  father's  arms.) 

ISABELLE 

Father  I 

Floris 

Dad! 

The  Burgomaster 

{Caressing  them  tenderly.)  Don't  cry, 
dears;  the  time  has  not  yet  come.  But  we 
must  provide  for  everything.  My  will  is 
with  Van  Overloop,  the  solicitor.  I  have 
added  certain  safeguards  against  Otto, 
who,  after  all,  is  not  a  member  of  the  fam- 
ily. You  will  find  in  the  safe,  over  and 
above  the  fifty  thousand  francs  put  aside 
for  the  payment  of  the  fine,  ten  thousand 
francs  in  ready  money,  which  will  enable 
you  to  live  till  better  times  come.  Here, 
Isabelle,  is  the  key.  Don't  mention  those 
ten  thousand  francs,  either  of  you,  to  Otto. 
110 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Isabelle's  position  will  be  very  difficult 
after  the  war.  Flemish  people  have  long 
memories  and  the  national  hatred  will  be 
so  great  that  Otto  will  not  be  able  to  show 
his  face  here  again. 

Floris 
I  should  hope  not  I 

The  Burgomaster 
Hold  your  tongue,  Floris;  show  some 
pity  for  your  sister;  and,  whatever  hap- 
pens, always  remember  that  she  is  your  sis- 
ter. .  .  .  But  here  comes  Otto ;  he  will  tell 
us  the  latest. 

{Enter  Otto.) 

ISABELLE 

(Running  towards  him.)     Well?     Did 
you  succeed?     Have  you  done  It?     Did 
you  make  him  understand? 
Ill 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 
Otto 

Not  a  thing  I  I  begged,  entreated, 
dragged  myself  at  his  feet,  did  and  said 
what  not  another  German  officer  would 
have  done.  Not  a  thing,  not  a  thing  I 
He  ended  by  commanding  my  silence  in 
such  a  tone  that  it  was  impossible  to  insist. 

ISABELLE 

You  must  try  again!  You  give  in  too 
soon :  that's  not  the  way  to  obtain  what  one 
wants !  If  you  had  let  me  go  with  you,  as 
I  implored  you,  he  would  have  ended  by 
yielding,  I  know  he  would!  After  all,  he 
may  be  a  German,  but  he's  a  man,  for  all 
that!  Come  along.  I  want  to  go  with 
you.     If  you  won't  come,  I'll  go  alone ! 

Otto 

It's  no  use,  he  won't  see  us. 
112 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

ISABELLE 

Did  you  say  all  there  was  to  say?  You 
have  influence  in  Germany;  your  family 
is  rich  and  powerful;  you've  told  me  so 
again  and  again.  You  must  frighten  him, 
make  him  feel  uneasy,  threaten  him,  any- 
thing ! 

Otto 
Threaten  him  I  You  don't  realize ;  you 
don't  know  what  things  are.  I  saw  that 
his  patience  was  exhausted.  .  .  .  But  I 
haven't  told  you  everything.  There's 
something  else,  something  worse. 

ISABELLE 

Something  worse?  Worse  than  what? 
What  can  be  worse  than  death? 

Otto 
Yes,  he  has  discovered  something  worse; 
and  perhaps  it  is  not  his  fault.     He  is,  as 
113 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

we  all  are,  the  slave  of  discipline  and  of 
the  military  regulations.  He  does  not  like 
me  as  much,  perhaps,  as  he  liked  von 
Schaunberg,  for  I  don't  belong  to  his  class. 
But  I  do  not  believe  that  he  wishes  me  any 
ill.  He  was  always  a  little  distant  to  me, 
perhaps,  but  on  the  whole,  up  to  now,  he 
has  been  very  just.  He  is  not  a  bad  sort 
of  man;  he  is  one  of  our  most  humane  offi- 
cers ;  but  what  he  wants  to  make  me  do  is 
terrible. 

ISABELLE 

But  what  is  it,  what?  There  is  nothing 
more  for  us  to  fear.  Nothing  worse  can 
happen  than  what  has  happened  already. 
He  is  not  going  to  revive  torture,  I  sup- 
pose? Does  he  want  more  victims? 
There  are  no  lives  more  precious  than  our 
father's.  Does  he  want  you  and  me?  I 
would  rather  have  that.  We  will  all  die 
114 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

together.     Of  what  good  will  life  be,  after 
this? 

Otto 
He  does  not  ask  for  other  victims,  but 
his  orders  are.  .  .  .  No,  I  can't  say  it,  I 
daren't  say  it,  to  you  I 

ISABELLE 

But  what  is  it  that  he  wants?  Do 
speak,  speak,  tell  usl  Why  all  this  mys- 
tery? What  can  you  say,  worse  than  al- 
ready is?  If  I  lose  my  father,  I  shall  have 
nothing  left  to  lose. 

The  Burgomaster 
She  is  right;  it  is  cruel  of  you  to  keep 
her  on  tenterhooks  like  this.  You  see  how 
upset  she  is.  Say  what  you  have  to  say; 
tell  us.  You  cannot  add  much  to  what  we 
know  already. 

Otto 
You  are  right.     Very  well,  he  orders, 
115 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

he  demands  that  I  myself  shall  command 
the  firing-party. 

ISABELLE 

The  firing-party,  the  men  who  are  to 
shoot  my  father  ? 

Otto 
Yes. 

Floris 
The  scoundrel,  the  villain! 

ISABELLE 

You,  Otto,  you?  It's  not  true!  He 
can't  have  dared  I  It's  impossible!  And 
you  didn't  rebel,  you  didn't  lash  him  across 
the  face,  you  didn't  cut  him  down  with  your 
sword,  your  eyes  said  nothing  of  what  was 
passing  in  your  soul?  I  refuse  to  believe 
it!  There  has  been  nothing  like  this  in 
any  war  in  history!  Why,  it's  not  pos- 
116 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

siblel  It's  only  a  test!  He  wanted  to 
find  out  how  far  he  could  go ;  but  he  knows 
quite  weir  that  no  man,  no  man  in  the 
world,  not  even  a  German,  could  agree  to 
that!  .  .  .  Well,  what  did  you  answer? 
I  hope  that  by  this  time  he  knows  what 
to  expect  and  that,  though  you  have  had 
the  misfortune  to  be  born  in  Germany,  you 
are  still  different  from  the  rest  of  them  I 

Otto 
The  worst  of  it  is  that  he  is  obliged  to 
do  what  he  is  doing.     I  am  the  only  officer 
he  has  with  him.     It's  the  regulation:  he 
can't  act  differently. 

ISABELLE 

He  can't  act  differently!  .  .  .  And  you 
dare  tell  me  that,  just  as  though  you  ap- 
proved 1  .  .  .  But  you,  you,  what  did  you 
say,  what  did  you  do  and  what  do  you  in- 
tend to  do  ? 

117 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Otto 
I  told  him  it  was  impossible. 

ISABELLE 

That's  something,  at  last  1  It's  the  first 
word  which  was  worthy  of  you,  which  was 
worthy  of  the  man  I  married!  .  .  .  And 
what  did  he  reply?  He  didn't  Insist,  of 
course  ? 

Otto 
He  told  me  that  he  would  give  me  till 
seven  o'clock  to  think  it  over.  If  at  seven 
o'clock  precisely  I  am  not  at  the  head  of 
my  men  in  the  little  yard  behind  the 
stables,  he  will  have  me  arrested,  place 
me  against  the  wall  beside  your  father  and 
will  himself  command  the  party  which  will 
execute  both  sentences. 

ISABELLE 

Good  I     I  shall  go  and  stand  between 
118 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

the  two  of  you.  He  will  order  three  vol- 
leys and  it  will  be  finished.  After  all,  life 
has  become  impossible. 

Floris 
I  shall  go  too. 

ISABELLE 

And  "  the  man  is  not  a  bad  sort,"  you 
say  I     "He's  one  of  your  most  humane 

officers!  " 

It's  war! 


Otto 


ISABELLE 

And  who  started  the  war? 

Otto 

As  far  as  you  Belgians  were  concerned, 

you  did!     And  many  of  us  were  sore  at 

heart  when  we  found  that  we  had  to  march 

against  you.     But  you  wanted  it!     Ah, 

119 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

that  beloved  king  of  yours  did  a  fine  stroke 
of  work,  on  the  day  when  he  blocked  the 
way  to  a  peaceful  army  of  men,  who  merely 
asked  to  pass  through  the  country  as 
friends. 

The  Burgomaster 

Silence  1  Our  king's  wishes  were  the 
wishes  of  every  one  of  us;  and  if  to-mor- 
row we  had  to  do  once  more  what  we 
have  done  to-day,  you  would  find  us  in 
the  same  place,  among  our  ruins,  our  mar- 
tyrs and  our  dead,  ready  to  begin  all  over 
again. 

Floris 

Tell  your  horrible  Kaiser  to  put  that  in 
his  pipe  and  smoke  it  I 

Otto 

{Suddenly   drawing   himself   up,   in   a 
120 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

threatening  attitude.)     Mind  what  you're 
saying  I 

The  Burgomaster 
Come,  come,  stop  this  fooling  and  let 
us  talk  sense.  We  must  not  lose  our  self- 
control.  The  Major  is  a  monster,  a  brute, 
anything  you  please;  but,  placed  as  he  is, 
he's  right.  He's  obeying  the  regulations ; 
and,  again  in  his  position,  he  can't  act  dif- 
ferently. ...  I  will  ask  Otto  once  again, 
is  it  quite  certain  that  he  will  not  recon- 
sider his  decision?  People  often  change 
their  minds  at  the  last  moment;  and  even 
the  most  obstinate  man  will  let  himself 
think. 

Otto 
As  I  know  him  —  and  I  have  known 
him  for  more  than  ten  years  —  he  will 
have  everything  carried  out  exactly  as  he 
has  decided. 

121 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Burgomaster 
Can't   he    have    the    firing-party   com- 
manded by  a  sergeant  ? 

Otto 
He  won't  do  it.  In  anything  relating 
to  the  army  orders,  he  is  inflexible.  Be- 
sides, on  second  thoughts,  I  am  not  sure 
that  I  did  not  go  too  far  just  now  when 
I  said  that  he  had  nothing  against  me.  I 
have  sometimes  observed  a  certain  ill-will, 
almost  a  certain  animosity,  where  I  was 
concerned.  I  don't  quite  know  to  what 
to  ascribe  it.  It  may  be  that  the  plebeian 
prosperity  of  my  family  offends  his  patri- 
cian poverty.  It  may  be  that,  as  I  took 
my  wife  from  this  country,  he  suspects  me 
of  being  too  fond  of  its  inhabitants.  Or, 
more  likely  still,  he  may  have  other  reasons 
into  which  I  do  not  care  to  enter.  The 
fact  remains  that  he  would  not  be  sorry 
122 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

to  find  me  at  fault  or  at  least  to  put  me 
to  the  test  and  to  make  that  test  a  striking 
example,  which  will  teach  our  soldiers  once 
more  what  German  discipline  can  do. 

The  Burgomaster 
And  if  I  asked  him  to  grant  me  the  fa- 
vour of  giving  the  word  to  fire? 

Otto 
I   thought   of  that.     He   refused  per- 
emptorily, refused  as  a  matter  of  course, 
said  that  it  was  an  honour  which  could 
not  be  shown  to  a  rebel  and  a  traitor. 

Floris 
A  traitor? 

The  Burgomaster 
Yes,  Floris,  they  call  traitors  all  those 
who  do  not  betray  their  country  for  Ger- 
many's benefit. 

123 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Otto 
He  added  that  it  was  also  against  all 
the  regulations,  so  it  became  useless  for 
me  to  insist. 

The  Burgomaster 
Very  good.     What  do  you  intend  to  do  ? 

Otto 
Whatever  Isabelle  decides. 

The  Burgomaster 
And  what  will  you  have  him  do,  Isa- 
belle? 

Isabelle 
Refuse  to  obey. 

Floris 
Why,  of  course  1 

The  Burgomaster 

And,  if  you  refuse  to  obey,  Otto,  do 
124 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

you  think  that  your  refusal  will  alter  my 
fate  at  all  ? 

Otto 
I  am  convinced  —  I  am  sorry  to  say  it 
—  that  nothing  could  alter  it  in  any  way 
whatever. 

The  Burgomaster 
On  the  other  hand,  if  he  refuses  to  obey, 
do  you,  Isabelle,  fully  realize  the  conse- 
quences? He  will  at  once  be  arrested  and 
shot  by  my  side.  That  is  so,  Otto,  is  it 
not? 

Otto 
There  is  not  the  least  doubt  of  it. 

The  Burgomaster 
Is  that  what  you  wish,  Isabelle?     He 
will  die  at  the  same  time  that  I  do. 

Isabelle 
And  at  the  same  time  that  I  do. 
125 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 
The  Burgomaster 

It  is  not  sure  that  they  will  permit  you 
to  die  with  us. 

ISABELLE 

It  would  certainly  be  the  first  time  that 
they  had  spared  a  woman.  You  need  have 
no  fear  on  that  score.  In  any  case,  this 
is  my  affair ;  and  we  need  say  no  more  about 
that. 

The  Burgomaster 
Do  you  accept,  Otto? 

Otto 
I  accept,  in  so  far  as  I  am  concerned, 
that  is  to  say,  I  shall  refuse  to  obey;  but 
I  do  not  agree  to  letting  my  death  involve 
Isabelle's. 

The  Burgomaster 
Therefore,  by  ordering  you  to  disobey, 
126 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Isabelle  is  sending  you  to  face  the  firing- 
party.  She  has  no  right  to  do  that,  un- 
less she  is  absolutely  determined  not  to 
survive  you.  If  a  woman  deliberately  and 
of  her  own  free  will  —  for  that  is  what 
you  are  doing,  Isabelle  —  sends  a  man  to 
his  death  and  does  not  go  with  him,  after 
explicitly  promising  to  share  his  fate,  then 
she  is  guilty  of  one  of  the  most  odious 
and  cowardly  acts  of  treachery  which  she 
could  possibly  commit.  Reflect,  both  of 
you.  It  is  a  question  of  taking,  in  my 
presence,  a  solemn  and  irrevocable  pledge. 

Isabelle 
I  have  thought  it  all  out.     The  pledge 
is  taken. 

The  Burgomaster 

Then  Otto  will  die  in  an  hour's  time 
and  you  with  him?  Is  that  exactly  what 
you  wish? 

127 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

ISABELLE 

It  is  exactly  what  I  wish  and  all  that  I 
wish. 

The  Burgomaster 
Do  you  accept,  Otto  ? 

Otto 
I  accept,  since  Isabelle  wishes  it. 
{A  pause.) 

The  Burgomaster 

Good.  Each  of  you  is  worthy  of  the 
other.  You  have  proved  to  me  that  you 
love  me  and  that  you  love  each  other 
better  than  life.  .  .  .  Now  that  the  proof 
is  established  and  your  sacrifice  fulfilled 
as  much  as  though  death  had  come  to  you, 
we  have  nothing  more  to  fear  and  we  can 
speak  freely.  In  all  this  nightmare  there 
is  only  one  death  which  is  necessary  and  in- 
128 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

evitable;  and  that  is  mine.  Your  own 
deaths  depend  only  upon  ourselves,  that 
is  to  say,  they  must  not  take  place.  .  .  . 
Isabelle,  my  darling,  if  I  were  lying  on  my 
death-bed  at  this  moment,  you  would  not 
refuse  to  hear  and  carry  out  my  last  wishes. 
I  am  before  you  now,  standing  on  my  feet, 
but  as  near  to  my  end  as  though  I  were 
stretched  upon  a  bed  of  sickness.  (The 
clock  strikes  six.)  Hark  I  Six  o'clock! 
You  see  how  close  it  is.  Besides,  I  have 
what  dying  men,  whose  minds  are  often 
dulled,  do  not  always  have,  the  full  posses- 
sion of  my  mental  faculties.  The  wish 
which  I  am  about  to  express,  the  request 
which  I  am  about  to  make  of  both  of  you, 
must  therefore  be  all  the  more  sacred. 
Do  you  promise  me,  Isabelle,  as  you  would 
promise  a  dying  man,  to  perform  piously 
what  I  am  going  to  ask  of  you? 
129 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

ISABELLE 

I  know  beforehand  what  you  are  going 
to  ask;  and  I  cannot  promise  you  to  order 
the  man  I  married  to  become  the  murderer 
of  his  father  and  mine. 

The  Burgomaster 
Isabelle,  at  a  moment  like  this  we  must 
not  juggle  with  words  which  do  not  ex- 
press what  they  say  and  which  distort  the 
truth  most  dreadfully.  Otto  has  revealed 
to  us  the  only  truth  that  counts,  by  proving 
that  he  is  ready  to  sacrifice  his  life  not 
only  to  save  mine,  if  that  were  possible, 
but  even  to  spare  you  the  pain  of  see- 
ing him  become  the  instrument  —  to  some 
extent  the  accidental,  involuntary,  ir- 
responsible instrument  —  of  my  death. 
It  is  for  you  and  me  to  show  ourselves 
worthy  of  that  sacrifice  by  not  accept- 
ing it. 

130 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

ISABELLE 

If  I  did  not  accept  it,  I  should  not  be 
worthy  of  being  your  daughter. 

The  Burgomaster 
Words,  more  words,  Isabelle,  which  do 
not  touch  the  truth.  We  have  no  time  to 
waste  on  sentences  which  do  not  say  the 
things  that  have  to  be  said.  The  minutes 
are  slipping  by,  there  are  very  few  left; 
and  I  should  not  like  to  die  before  con- 
vincing you.  Otto  —  you  know  it  as  well 
as  I  do  —  is  caught  in  the  cogs  of  the  ma- 
chine and  cannot  extricate  himself.  This 
is  enough  to  justify  him.  He  is  no  more 
responsible  for  the  harm  which  he  will  do 
me  than  the  sword  which  he  carries  or  the 
twelve  rifles  which  will  discharge  their  bul- 
lets at  me.  We  must  look  at  things  as 
they  are  and  rise  above  hackneyed  phrases 
and  theories  which  show  things  to  us  as 
131 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

they  are  not.  If  his  refusal  could  delay 
my  execution  for  a  day,  for  an  hour,  I 
could  in  the  last  resort  understand  your 
decision;  but  it  will  not  delay  it  for  three 
minutes.  Whether  it  be  he  or  another 
who  gives  the  word  of  command,  the  ten 
or  twelve  bullets  that  enter  my  body  will 
do  it  the  same  hurt. 

ISABELLE 

Enough,  enough  I 

The  Burgomaster 
No,  it  is  not  enough:  you  have  not  yet 
promised  me. 

ISABELLE 

I  can't  promise. 

Floris 
Isabelle  1 

ISABELLE 

What  is  it? 

133 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Floris 
{Flinging  himself  into  his  sister's  arms.) 
I  don't  know! 

The  Burgomaster 
I  have  done  my  duty,  Isabelle,  and  you 
have  approved.  I  have  made  the  sacri- 
fice of  my  life;  and  I  have  made  it  much 
more  easily  than  I  dared  hope,  for  I  did 
not  know  that  I  had  so  much  courage. 
But  I  am  no  hero;  I  am  only  a  poor  man 
who  was  quite  unprepared  to  do  what  I 
am  going  to  do  to-day.  You  must  not  ask 
too  much  of  me.  There  are  limits  to  my 
strength.  I  am  not  used  to  suffering,  I 
have  not  been  in  the  habit  of  braving  mis- 
fortune. I  can  bear  my  own  unhappiness, 
but  not  that  of  others;  and  I  feel  that  I 
shall  not  hold  out  to  the  end  without  break- 
ing down,  if  my  death  is  to  involve  the  loss 
of  the  most  precious  of  the  lives  which  I 
133 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

thought  I  had  ransomed.  You  must  spare 
me  one  intolerable  sorrow  that  can  still 
move  me.  You  ought  to  understand  this. 
You  ought  to  help  me.  And,  instead  of 
helping  me,  you  are  both  of  you  making 
it  more  difficult  for  me  I  Don't  you  want 
your  father  to  hold  up  his  head  when  he 
faces  the  enemy?  I  was  not  afraid  of 
death  for  myself,  but  I  am  for  you.  Do 
not  weaken  the  strength  which  I  shall  need 
very  soon.  I  have  made  the  sacrifice  of 
my  own  life,  but  not  of  your  two  lives: 
that  would  mean  a  twofold  death  to  me 
and  threefold  suffering;  and  the  courage 
which  I  have  called  up  will  not  be  enough 
if  I  see  you  fall  by  my  side. 

ISABELLE 

(Sobbing  and  throwing  herself  into  her 
father's  arms.)      Father  I 
134 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Burgomaster 
I  thought  that  there  would  be  tears  for 
me,  Isabelle.     They  prove  that  you  are 
becoming  reasonable  and  will  no  longer 
resist  me. 

Isabelle 
I  can't  do  it,  I  can't  do  it,  I  shall  never 
be  able  to  do  it  I 

The  Burgomaster 
But  you  must.     Time  presses;  and  you 
are  making  the  last  few  minutes  of  my 
life  seem  even  more  cruel  than  death. 

Isabelle 
There  are  chances  still.     There  is  flight. 

The  Burgomaster 
Flight?  .  .  .  Whither?  .  .  .  How?  .  .  . 
The  house  is  guarded. 
135 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

ISABELLE 

The  men  who  guard  it  are  under  Otto's 
orders.     He  has  only  to  give  a  command. 

The  Burgomaster 
Otto  is  answerable  for  my  safe  custody. 
If  I  run  away,  he  will  take  my  place  against 
the  wall. 

ISABELLE 

He  can  run  away  too. 

The  Burgomaster 
And  both  of  us  be  caught  before  we 
have  gone  two  hundred  yards?  The  trag- 
edy would  be  the  same;  only  it  would  be 
less  seemly.  And,  if  I  did  succeed  in  es- 
caping, too  many  others  would  pay  the 
penalty.  Of  all  the  chances  of  safety,  this 
obviously  is  the  only  one  that  must  on  no 
account  be  attempted.  No,  I  am  driven 
into  a  corner,  I  am  marked  down;  it  is  all 
136 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

over;  and  you  must  look  upon  me  as  dead. 
I  have  come  to  the  end  of  my  days;  those 
which  were  worth  living  are  past.  I  am 
not  dying  too  soon ;  I  had  nothing  more  to 
wait  for.  Instead  of  a  lingering,  trouble- 
some death,  a  painful,  miserable  death  on 
a  bed,  I  am  offered  a  quick  and  sudden 
end,  an  honourable  end,  free  from  thought 
or  suffering,  and  one  which  perhaps  will 
save  half  the  town.  I  should  be  mad  to 
hesitate  or  to  regret  not  dying  in  my  bed. 
I  too  have  been  afraid  of  death.  If  any 
one  had  ever  told  me  that  one  evening 
I  should  have  to  face  it  as  I  am  doing 
now,  I  should  not  have  dared  to  go  on 
living.  Whereas  now  I  hardly  give  it  a 
thought;  I  have  to  make  an  effort,  to  force 
myself,  to  concentrate  my  mind  upon  it  in 
order  to  realize  that,  after  all,  perhaps  it 
is  somewhat  serious  and  not  what  we  had 
expected.  Looked  at  from  a  distance, 
137 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

death  seems  like  some  horrible  mountain, 
which  shuts  out  the  horizon;  but,  as  we 
draw  near,  it  dwindles  and  sinks  away; 
and,  when  we  are  face  to  face  with  it,  it 
is  nothing. 

ISABELLE 

Well,  if  it  is  nothing,  let  us  die  with 
you. 

The  Burgomaster 
It  is  nothing  to  me,  because  I  was  near- 
ing  my  end;  and,  above  all,  it  is  nothing 
because  it  is  necessary.  But  to  you  two  it 
is  everything,  because  it  is  purposeless  and 
because  your  life  is  beginning. 

Isabelle 

Our  life  is  beginning.     Ah,  a  beautiful 
life,  a  life  that  begins  like  this ! 

The  Burgomaster 

It  will  be  what  you  make  of  it.     But 
138 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

enough!  I  have  begged,  entreated  and 
argued.  The  seconds  are  flying  and  I  am 
wasting  the  last  of  them  in  quarrelling  with 
you  instead  of  pressing  you  to  my  heart. 
Yes  or  no,  will  you  do  what  I  ask?  I 
appeal  to  Otto:  his  silence  shows  that  he 
understands.  He  sees  things  now  as  you 
will  see  them  later,  as  I  see  them  and  as 
we  are  bound  to  see  them.  One  day  you 
will  thank  us  both  for  not  listening  to  you 
to-day.  But  we  must  have  done  with  this; 
and  there  are  certain  precautions  which  we 
must  take  to  protect  you  against  yourself 
and  the  strain  of  the  final  moment.  I  am 
going  to  lock  you  in  this  room  and  I  shall 
give  the  key  of  the  door  to  Otto,  who  will 
let  you  out  when  all  is  over. 

ISABELLE 
Lock  me  in  here,  while  .  .  .    ?     I  won't 
have  it,  I  won't  have  it! 
139 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

The  Burgomaster 
You  surely  will  not  compel  Otto  and 
me  to  use  violence,  to  push  you  back  by 
force,  to  struggle  with  you  ?  That  would 
be  too  dreadful  I  Look  at  me  I  Can't 
you  see  that  I  am  using  up  all  my  strength, 
my  last  atom  of  strength,  that  I  am  dying 
ten  deaths,  rather  than  one,  because  of 
you  ?  Look  I  I  can  scarcely  hold  myself 
up!  It  is  more  than  I  can  bear,  It  is  too 
much  for  me :  will  you  not  understand  ? 

ISABELLE 
{Falls  sobbing  into  her  father's  arms.) 
I  too  cannot  bear  it  any  more.  .  .  .  Do 
what  you  will !  .  .  .  I  promise  whatever 
you  ask  of  me ! 

The  Burgomaster 

At  last  my  own  daughter  has  come  back 

to  me  I     And  now  let  me  give  you  one 

long,  long  kiss,  free  from  any  thought  of 

140 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

pain  or  sorrow.  You  will  both  of  you 
live.  I  feel  as  I  might  if  I  had  been  re- 
prieved. But  remember  that  you  have 
given  your  promise  to  a  dying  man.  And, 
my  dear  one,  I  want  something  more.  I 
am  not  asking  you  to  forget:  that  does 
not  depend  on  yourself.  Nor  to  forgive 
Otto :  there  is  nothing  to  forgive.  I  sim- 
ply ask  you  not  to  shut  him  out  from  your 
heart.     Is  that  a  promise  also? 

ISABELLE 

(Faintly.)     Yes. 

The  Burgomaster 
Come  and  kiss  her.  Otto. 

Isabelle 
{Starting. )      No,  no !  .  . .  Not  now  I  . . . 

The  Burgomaster 

He  is  more  to  be  pitied  than  either  of 
141 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

us  two.  He  Is  bearing  the  chief  burden 
of  this  dreadful  ordeal;  and  I  doubt  if,  in 
his  place,  I  should  have  the  strength  to 
bear  that  burden.  We  must  have  pity. 
You  will  learn,  slowly,  to  love  him  once 
more  as  you  have  loved  him  until  this 
day.  .  .  .  Besides,  you  will  probably  soon 
become  a  mother.  The  child  that  is  to  be 
born  must  not  become  the  last  and  most 
sorrowful  victim  of  this  tragedy.  I  know 
that,  at  first,  life  will  be  very  sad  for  you 
and  very  difficult.  Wait  patiently.  Lis- 
ten humbly  to  what  it  says.  Life  is  al- 
ways right.  It  is  full  of  indulgence  and 
good-will  and  very  soon  forgets  what 
should  be  forgotten.  {The  clock  strikes 
seven. )  Seven  o'clock.  I  hear  some  one 
knocking  at  the  door.  My  time  is  up. 
They  have  come  to  fetch  us.  Otto.  Let 
us  embrace  each  other  for  the  last  time, 
Isabelle.  Come  to  my  arms,  Floris. 
142 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

You're  a  man  now.  I  entrust  your  sister 
to  you.  We  have  been  very  fond  of  one 
another.  .  .  .  Come,  Otto,  we  must  not 
keep  them  waiting.  {He  turns  to  the 
door.) 

ISABELLE 

[Clinging  to  his  clothes.)  No,  no! 
.  .  .  Not  yet !  .  .  .  I  can't  bear  it !  .  .  . 
I  want  to  go  with  you  I  .  .  . 

The  Burgomaster 
{Releasing  himself.)      Not  a  word! .  .  . 
Not  a  cry !  .  .  .  I  could  not  endure  more 
than  I  am  doing.  .  .  .  Floris,  look  to  your 
sister. 

{He  pushes  Isabelle  away  and  goes 
out  with  Otto,  locking  the  door 
behind  him.  A  pause.  Isabelle 
falls  to  the  floor,  where  she  lies 
half-supported  by  Floris  and  sob' 
bing.) 

143 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Floris 
(Caressing  her.)     Don't  cry,  dearest. 
We  shall  be  revenged,   we   shall  be   re- 
venged! .  .  .  We  shall  be  revenged! 

ISABELLE 

{Draws  herself  up,  looks  around  her 
and  suddenly  rises  and  runs  to  the  door.) 
No,  no,  I  can't  have  it ! 

Floris 
{Catching  her  up.)     What  are  you  do- 
ing?    What  do  you  want  to  do  ? 

ISABELLE 

I  want  ...  I  want  to  call  out,  to  cry, 
to  throw  myself  at  his  feet,  to  kill  myself 
in  front  of  him.  .  .  .  One  never  knows. 
.  .  .  There  are  things  left  to  try.  .  .  . 
{She  shakes  the  door.)  They've  locked 
iti  .  .  .  {She  runs  to  the  window,  opens 
it,  measures  the  height  with  her  eyes  and 
144 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

instinctively  steps  back.  Floris,  who  has 
followed  her,  throws  his  arms  round  her 
waist  and  drags  her  into  the  room.) 

Floris 
You  see,  it's  too  high. 

ISABELLE 

{Returning  to  the  door  and  shaking  it 
violently.)  I  can't  open  iti  .  .  .  I  can't 
open  itl  .  .  .  Ah,  if  I  were  only  there  I 
.  .  .  One  never  knows  until  the  last  mo- 
ment 1  ...  I  must  get  to  him,  I  must  get 
to  him!  .  .  .  {A  volley  is  fired.  She 
steps  back  in  horror.)  It's  done,  it's  done, 
it's  done  I  .  .  .  They've  killed  him  1  .  .  . 
They've  killed  what  was  best  in  the  wide 
world  I  ...  I  shall  never  see  him  again, 
I  shall  never  see  him  again  I 

(Supported  by  Floris,  she  staggers 
to  a  chair,  where  she  sits  huddled, 
145 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

staring  before  her,  dry-eyed. 
Floris  puts  his  arms  round  her 
and,  with  his  cheek  against  hers, 
rocks  her  to  and  fro,  whispering, 
"  Dearest,  dearest,  dearest!  "  A 
pause.  The  door  opens  and  the 
Major  and  Otto  appear  on  the 
threshold.) 

The  Major 
{Ceremoniously.)  Madam,  I  have 
done  your  father  the  honour  of  myself 
taking  command  of  the  firing-party.  All 
I  wanted  was  that  your  hushand  should 
prove  his  respect  for  discipline  to  the  end ! 
I  give  him  back  to  you ;  you  have  nothing 
to  blame  him  for.  Everything  went  off 
very  well,  in  a  most  correct  and  satisfactory 
manner.  Your  father  died  like  a  hero. 
.  .  .  And  now,  Lieutenant  Hilmer,  go  and 
embrace  your  wife.  .  .  . 
146 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

ISABELLE 

(Suddenly  drawing  herself  to  her  full 
height.)  Go  away  I  .  .  .  Go  away,  both 
of  you !  .  .  . 

Otto 
What,   I   too,   Isabelle?  .  .  .  But  you 
don't  understand.  .  .  . 

Isabelle 
I  understand  everything,  I  understand 
too  much,  it's  you  who  will  never  under- 
stand anything!  .  .  . 

Otto 
{Coming     towards     her.)      But,     Isa- 
belle! .  .  . 

Isabelle 
{Shrinking    hack.)      Don't   touch   me! 
.  .  .  Go    away!  .  .  .  Don't    touch    mel 
.  .  .  Go !    It's  over  .  .  .  for  good !  .  .  . 

147 


The  Burgomaster  of  Stilemonde 

Floris 
(Stamping    his    foot.)     She's    right  I 
She's  right  I     She's  right  1  .  .  .  Kiss  me, 
kiss  me !     Let  me  kiss  you  I  .  .  .  It's  we 
two  now,  you  and  II... 

The  Major 
( To  Otto.)  Let  them  be ;  I  want  you. 
I  hear  they're  attacking  on  the  Oostwinkel 
side.  .  .  .  You've  done  your  duty,  Hil- 
mer.  This  is  incomprehensible.  But 
they're  all  more  or  less  mad  in  this  coun- 
try. .  .  . 


CURTAIN 


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